SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN, 

OR 

KANSAS  IN  THE  WS. 

A 

LIFE  PICTURE 

OF   THE 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT 

OF   THE. 

DEBATABLE  GROUND. 


A    STORY,     FOUNDED    UPON     MEMORABLE,     AND     HISTORICAL      EVENTS, 
WHOSE    CHARACTERS    HAVE    BEEN   CAREFULLY   CHOSEN   TO    REP 
RESENT   THE    VARIOUS   TYPES   OF   MEN,     AND    WOMEN    WHO 
MET  UPON  THE  KANSAS  PLAINS  INDENT  ON    SETTLING 
THE    VEXED    QUESTION    AS    TO    V/HETHER   THE 
TERRITORY  SilCULD  COME  INTO  THE  UNION 
AS     A     FREE,      OR      SL^VF      STATE. 


By  MARY  A.  HUMPHREY. 


CHICAGO,  ILL.: 
COBURN  &  NEWMAN  PUBLISHING  CO., 


COPYRIGHTED 

BV 

MARY    A.    HUMPHREY, 

1883. 


TO  THE  PIOHEERS  OF  KAHSAS. 
THE  NOBLE  MARTYRS 

WHO  GAVE  UP  THEIR  LIVES  IN  DEFENCE  OF 
THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  LIBERTY  AND  JUSTICE, 

THE  SURVIVORS  OF  THAT  OLDEN  TIME 

WHO  SUCCEEDED  IN  REARING  UPON  HER  PLAINS, 

THE  RAMPART  WHICH  TURNED  BACK  THE  ADVANCING 

TIDE  OF  SLAVERY, 

AND 

THE  GALLANT  ARMY  OF  WORKERS, 

WHOSE  TOILS  AND  PRIVATIONS  MADE 

POSSIBLE  THE  GLORIOUS  PROSPERITY  NOW 

ENJOYED  BY  HER  PEOPLE,  THIS  VOLUME  IS 

REVERENTLY  DEDICATED. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


914501 


AUTHOR'S    PREFACE. 


Having  long  been  deeply  impressed  with  the  national 
significance  of  the  preliminary  strife  engendered  upon  the 
plains  of  Kansas  on  the  promulgation  of  the  doctrine  of 
Squatter  Sovereignty,  by  the  determination  of  each  section 
of  the  Union  to  obtain  supremacy,  and  filled  with  admira 
tion  for  the  patriotic  and  noble  souls  who  led  the  vanguard 
of  freedom  in  the  irrepressible  conflict,  through  hardship  and 
toil,  through  privation  and  danger,  through  misunderstanding, 
contumely,  and  misrepresentation,  I  have  been  impelled  to 
disinter  some  of  the  leading  events  from  beneath  the  weight 
of  later  memories  of  the  civil  war  and  its  great  achievements, 
and  to  embody  them,  while  sources  of  information  are  still 
accessible,  in  a  more  enduring  form. 

And,  believing  that  the  highest  form  of  history  is  that 
which  makes  apparent  to  the  reader  the  effect  of  great 
movements  upon  individuals  and  communities,  I  have  care 
fully  collected  and  strung  together  the  threads  of  fact, 
weaving  them  into  a  story  with  the  golden  woof  of  fiction, 
hoping  that  the  web  might  prove  acceptable  for  the  intrinsic 
value  of  the  material  though  wrought  by  a  prentice  hand. 

MARY  A.  HUMPHREY. 


OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


"THE  WAY  TO  THAT  MAN  is  OVER  MY  DEAD  BODY."      Frontispiece. 

KANSAS  FARM  SCENE.                                                                        -  25 

JACOB  SCHMIDT.  "I  SENDS  FOR  MY  KATRINA."  37 

AGNES  LANGTRY.        -  55 

SILE  HARDIKER'S  STORE.                                     •            •            •  65 
BACHELORS'  SUNDAY.  - 

NEW  YEAR'S  CALLERS.     "  MUCH  GOOD."                      •  94 
GRACE  ALDEN.                                                            •           •           -m 

THE  POLLS,  "HURRAY  FOR  MISSOURY."           ...  144 

SILE  HARDIKER.                                                            •            -            -  182 

MABEL  DELANEY.                                                             •  2I1 

SHAWNEE  WATER  WORKS.    -                                     ...  229 

SILE'S  ER'  POPPIN.  "¥ER  MIGHTY  PURTY  Miss  GRACE."  267 

"SHE  KISSED  THE  COLD  LIPS."                                                         -  285 
"MY  BLOOD  BE  UPON  THE  CAUSE  THEY  REPRESENT.     AGNES, 

OH!   AGNES."        -                                                                          -  32° 

ZEKE  AND  BETS  HAVING  A  FLIRTATION.        -           -            -  336 


SABLE  OB 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE    VENTURE. 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE    RETURN. 

CHAPTER     III. 
ON    THE    TOWN    SITE VISITORS., 

CHAPTER  IV. 

NEW    FRIENDS. 

CHAPTER    V. 

THE    FIRST    INVASION. 

CHAPTER    VI.   , 
THE  "RAISING" — DUTCH  JAKE. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

GTRY 
NEWS    FROM    AMY. 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

OUR  LADY SOUTHERN  COLONIES — ELECTION  OF  WHITFIELD. 

CHAPTER    IX. 
ARTHUR'S  LOVE — AGNES'  ACQUISITION — THE  FREE  NEGRO. 

CHAPTER    X. 
ARTHUR'S  MISSION — WARSAW  GROWING — AIR-CASTLES. 

7 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   XL 

CHRISTMAS PIONEER    CHURCH THE    ESCAPED    SLAVE. 

CHAPTER   XII. 
NEW  YEAR'S  CALLERS. 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
LETTERS — ARTHUR'S  CLAIM  JUMPED. 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

A   JOYFUL    REUNION A    NEW    LOVER COL.    DELANEY. 

CHAPTER    XV. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

AN      AMUSING      VISITOR BLUE      LODGE      SECRETS GRACE 

ENTERTAINS    THE    SQUIRE. 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

ELECTION    DAY LANGTRY    IN    DANGER. 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

RODERICK    AT    THE  CABIN POLITICAL  GATHERING AGNES 

AND    AMY. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
THE  GOVERNOR'S  MANSION — THE  PROPOSAL. 

CHAPTER   XX. 

THE    WIDOW HER    VISIT    TO    LAUDERDALE A    PRESENT 

-A  FATHER'S  ADVIC 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

THE    FIRST    LEGISLATURE. 

CHAPTER    XXII. 

THE    FOURTH    OF  JULY RODERICK  AND  MABEL  DELANEY- 


CONTENTS.  9 

CHAPTER   XXIII. 

PREPARATIONS     FOR     THE     WEDDING THE      BOGUS      LEGIS 
LATURE THE    JEWELLED     HAND    THAT    MOVES    THE 

PUPPETS RODERICK  IN  OPPOSITION CAPITAL  OF 
FENCES TESTS  FOR  JURORS LEGISLATURE  IN 
DORSED  BY  SUPREME  COURT LANGTRY'S  CIRCULAR. 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

RODERICK'S  DISAPPOINTMENT — CONVENTION  AT    WARSAW 
—AGNES'  APPEAL. 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

WHITE    SPRINGS A    WARNING    TO    LANGTRY. 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

THE      NEW      HOUSE  "  SILE's  -  ER  -  POPPIN  "  RAGE       AND 

JEALOUSY. 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 

s    o 

HOUSE. 

CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

A      DEMAND      FOR     JUSTICE THE      ASSASSIN'S       AIM THE 

LONE    TREE    ON    THE    PRAIRIE. 

CHAPTER    XXIXl 

BENEATH      THE      SOD ARREST      OF      ALDEN A      MIDNIGHT 

TRAMP — "  WE    WILL    PROTECT    YOU." 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

LAW    AND    ORDER    CONVENTION SECRET    PLANS. 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 

FORCED    TO    FLEE ON    A    WAR    BASIS. 

CHAPTER   XXXII. 

LANGTRY    SHAKES    THE    DUST    OF    WARSAW  FROM    HIS  FEET 

WARD     AND     ALDEN IN     THE      BORDER     RUFFIAN 

CAMP. 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   XXXIII. 
«  One  more  look  at  that  dead  face, 
Of  his  murderer's  ghastly  trace! 
One  more  kiss,  oh  widowed  one! 
Lay  your  left  hand  on  his  brow, 
Lift  your  right  hand  up  and  vow, 
That  his  work  shall  yet  be  done." 

CHAPTER   XXXIV. 
"  Bear  him  comrades  to  his  grave, 
Never  over  one  more  brave, 
Shall  the  prairie  grasses  weep, 
In  the  ages  yet  to  come, 
When  the  millions  in  our  room, 
What  we  sow  in  tears  shall  reap." 

CHAPTER   XXXV. 

ALDEN     A     WANDERER GRACE     GOES     TO    OHIO ELECTION 

OF       OFFICERS       UNDER       TOPEKA       CONSTITUTION  

PRISONERS    AT    LECOMPTON. 

CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

A    CHAPTER    OF    HISTORY. 

CHAPTER   XXXVII. 
"  What,  we  have  many  goodly  days  to  see, 
The  liquid  drops  of  tears  that  we  have  shed, 
Shall  come  again,  transformed  to  orient  pearls, 
Advantaging  their  loan  with  interest." 

SHAKESPEARE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    VENTURE. 

11  Be  sure  to  bring  back  a  fortune,  John,"  were  Amy 
Alden's  last  words  as  she  bade  her  husband  "  good  bye,"  in 
that  long  ago  when  the  California  gold  fever  was  at  its 
height. 

"  That  I  will,  Amy;"  was  the  answer.  "  You  shall  keep 
your  carnage  and  wear  diamonds  yet,  my  little  wife,  only  be 
brave,  and  very  patient." 

For  thirteen  years  these  two  had  walked'  life's  path 
together.  At  first,  joyously,  like  happy  children,  gathering 
the  flowers,  chasing  the  birds  and  butterflies,  in  every  festive 
throng  the  gayest  of  the  gay. 

Then,  more  sedately,  as  the  swift  years  went  gliding  by, 
bringing  now  a  care,  anon  a  disappointment,  and  then,  Alas! 
a  grief. 

"Having  a  good  time,"  was  at  first  their  only  object  in 
life,  and  like  many  a  young  couple  in  our  own  day,  they  lived 
in  a  style  beyond  their  means.  Not  that  they  exceeded  their 
income — they  had  a  very  little  prudence,  but  they  should 
have  left  a  margin,  and  that  never  seemed  possible. 

"  I  have  too  much  pride,"  John  said,  "  to  go  more  poorly 
dressed  or  less  comfortably  housed  than  my  associates." 

"  I  must  have  this  and  that,  as  all  my  friends  have.  One 
can't  be  old-fashioned  and  look  like  a  fright,"  said  Amy. 

But  after  a  while,  when  the  little  daughter,  whose  com 
ing  had  given  a  deeper  current  to  their  thoughts,  had  grown 
to  be  a  fair-haired,  lovely  little  lass,  they  suddenly  awoke  to 

II 


12  THE -.SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

a  confeciousnoss  ,of  -the  f*ct  that  many  humble  plodders  who 
had  begun  ike  at"  the  vartie  time  they  did,  and  whose  frugal 
manner  of  living  they  had  laughed  to  scorn,  were  taking  pos 
session  of  homes  of  their  own,  and  otherwise  giving  evidence 
of  progressive  fortunes  while  they  remained  pecuniarily  at  the 
starting  point. 

To  John  and  Amy  Alden  this  was  a  very  unpalatable 
truth,  one  which  They  were  unwilling  to  admit.  But  the 
proofs  were  plainly  before  t'hem  and  would  not  be  gainsaid. 
They  realized  fully  the  harsh  fact  that  the  fruits  of  economy 
and  industry  can.  only  be  enjoyed  after  the  practice  of  the 
frugal  virtues  necessary  to  their  growth. 

And  now  they  began  to  plan  each  year  how  much  should 
DC  spent  for  this,  and  that,  and  how  much  should  be  depos 
ited  in  the  savings  bank;  but  somehow  the  savings  bank 
deposit  invariably  came  out  a  minus  quantity.  There  were 
always  a  hundred  little  expenses  cropping  up  like  vile  weeds 
to  absorb  the  surplus.  Many  of  them,  no  doubt,  might  have 
been  lopped  off  with  a  hoe  of  moral  courage  sufficiently 
incisive;  but  our  friends  were  yet  not  toned  up  to  the  point 
of  declaring  decisively,  "  I  cannot  afford  it."  Old  habits 
asserted  themselves,  false  pride  was  still  strong  within  them; 
they  could  not  deny  themselves  the  little  indulgences  of  which 
all  around  them  partook,  and,  of  course,  they  failed  to  accu 
mulate  property. 

Amy  became  discontented  and  envious.  Ugly  little  lines 
made  their  appearance  on  her  hitherto  lovely  face — the  happy 
childlike  expression  was  gone  from  her  eyes,  and  a  harsh  note 
intruded  itself  in  the  tones  of  her  voice. 

John  grew  moody  and  misanthropic.  The  daily  routine 
of  business,  standing  as  he  d4d  for  hours  at  a  desk  in  a  dull 
counting  room,  entering  credits,  and  bills  of  merchandise, 
and  bills  of  lading,  and  summing  up  long  rows  of  figures, 
grew  very  distasteful  to  him.  It  seemed  such  a  treadmill,  and 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  13 

to  do  this  year  after  year — for  a  fixed  salary — a  weary  round 
of  existence. 

Just  at  this  time  came  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California. 
Ah!  here  was  a  rift  in  the  cloud.  Here  was  deliverance  from 
this  dull  monotony.  Who  would  tread  the  painful  jagged 
paths  of  economy  when  he  might  gain  the  smooth  heights 
of  competence  by  one  daring  effort? 

What  were  a  few  years  of  absence  from  home  and  family 
compared  to  the  long  years  of  comfort  and  affluence  that 
absence  might  bring. 

John  Alden  pondered  long.  Over  and  over  again,  in 
imagination,  he  traveled  by  land  to  the  Atlantic  coast — sailed 
to,  and  over  the  Gulf  of  Mexico — safely  crossed  the  isthmus 
of  Panama,  took  ship  again  on  the  Pacific — reached  San 
Francisco,  and  joined  the  hurrying  throngs  who  were  making 
their  way  to  the  gold  mines. 

How  hope  and  expectation  reveled  high  within  his  soul. 
What  stores  of  yellow  ore  he  made  his  own,  and  with  what 
exultation  returned  to  receive  the  welcome  reception  which 
ever  awaits  the  successful  fortune-hunter. 

These  dreams,  ever  recurring,  haunted  him  by  day,  and 
by  night.  Sometimes  the  journey  was  made  by  the  Cape,and 
home  across  the  continent;  sometimes  with  one  series  of 
adventures,  and  sometimes  with  another,  but  the  end  was 
always  success  and  a  return  to  spend  his  days  and  fortune  in 
the  old  home,  and  mid  the  old  friends. 

At  last  he  gathered  courage  to  broach  the  scheme  to  Amy, 
from  whom  he  expected  strong  opposition;  but  to  his  great 
surprise  she  was  not  only  willing  for  him  to  go,  but  he  found 
her  a  most  valuable  member  of  his  ways  and  means  commit 
tee.  Fertile  in  resources,  she  had  soon  matured  a  plan  which 
she  urged  upon  him,  and  never  f6r  a  moment  did  she  permit 
herself,  or  him  to  falter,  or  to  hesitate. 

To   obtain  the   means  for  John's  long  journey  they  sold 


14  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

their  costliest  furniture,  and  like  Isabella,  of  Spain,  she 
brought  all  of  her  jewels  and  laid  them  at  the  feet  of  an 
adventurer.  Then,  with  her  daughter,  when  she  had  seen 
her  hero  fairly  launched  on  his  voyage  of  discovery,  she 
sought  the  paternal  home,  from  which  she  had  gone  forth 
thirteen  years  before,  a  happy  bride. 

Poor  Amy!  she  turned  from  John  on  that  eventful  morn 
ing,  sad  at  the  separation,  it  is  true — and  yet,  so  distasteful  of 
late  had  become  the  petty  economies  of  housekeeping,  the 
constant  struggle  to  keep  up  the  appearance  of  lavish  expend 
iture,  and  yet  make  ends  meet  and  lap  over  a  little,  so  much 
had  John's  moodiness  and  anxiety  for  the  future  worn  upon 
her,  that  she  felt  as  if  a  great  burden  were  rolled  away,  and 
she  turned  to  her  childhood's  home,  set  in  memory  amid  green 
fields  and  blue  and  smiling  skies,  as  to  a  haven  of  rest  where 
she  might  await  in  peace  a  successful  lord's  return. 

And  as  for  John,  foot-loose  at  last,  and  free  to  pursue  the 
glorious  visions  which  had  so  long  danced  before  his  eager 
eyes,  his  spirits  rose  within  him.  His  soul  took  no  cognizance 
of  the  present  pain  of  parting,  but  his  hope-winged  thoughts 
went  bounding  forward  through  the  brightly  looming  future 
in  fond  anticipation  of  the  hour  of  meeting. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    RETURN. 

CLEVELAND,  OHIO,  June  i,  1854. 
MY  DEAR,  DEAR  HUSBAND: 

This  is  the  anniversary  of  your  departure.  Six  years — six  weary 
years  have  dragged  their  slow  length  along,  since  you  set  forth  in  quest 
of  that  fortune  which  was  to  bring  us  happiness.  They  have  been  to  me 
years  of  loneliness,  toil,  and  grief. — And  to  you,  I  dare  not  think  what, 
they  have  been  to  you.  Long,  long  since  have  I  learned  that  happiness 
is  within  ourselves,  and  not  in  our  surroundings,  iir  our  aims  and  pur 
poses  and  not  in  our  possessions,  and  long  since  would  my  love  have 
annihilated  the  barriers  of  space  between  us  but  for  the  chains  of  duty 
which  have  held  me  fast.  *  *  *  * 

So  long  you  have  been  an  exile  from  the  sweet  delights  of  home. 
Come  back  to  me!  oh!  come  back  to  me,  and  never  again  shall  an  envi 
ous  murmuring  word  pass  my  lips.  A  crust  of  bread,  a  cup  of  water,  a 
roof  to  shelter  us,  and  your  love  and  presence,  are  all  the  fortune  I  ask 
you  to  bring,  to  your  loving  and  lonely  wife^ 

AMY 

Across  the  continent  sped  this  loving  missive  sent  by  no 
self-indulgent,  pleasure-loving  wife.  It  was  no  miracle,  this 
change  so  radical!  t'was  growth,  development.  The  purest 
gold  must  with  hard  rubbing  burnished  be.  The  diamond 
polished  by  rough  hands  before  it  sparkles  in  the  light 
When  real  troubles  rack  the  soul  all  fancied  ills  soon  vanish. 

Amy  Alden  had  gone  back  to  her  father's  house  with 
•anticipations  of  the  old  childlike  feeling  of  security  and  repose. 
She  would  have  been  disappointed  had  even  the  outward  con 
ditions  remained  the  same.  States  of  feeling  never  repeat 


1 6  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

themselves,  there  are  too  many  fleeting  factors  entering  into 
each  adjustment. 

She  was  very  welcome  there  and  her  presence  soon  be- 
came  a  necessity.  Her  father  had  long  been  an  invalid,  de 
pendent  on  her  mother's  care  and  solicitude,  and  during  the 
second  year  of  her  stay  at  home,  this  loving  mother  suddenly 
sickened  and  died.  Her  mantle  of  devotion  fell  upon  our 
Amy.  Each  day  brought  urgent  duties  which  could  neither 
be  evaded  nor  postponed.  Thus  tried  as  in  a  crucible,  the 
little  imperfections  which  marred  her  character  were  worn 
away.  How  foolish  and  petty  seemed  all  her  former  aims. 
How  vain  her  desire  for  show  and  extravagance,  and  Alas! 
how  more  than  doubly  dear,  the  love  and  care  of  her  husband, 
which  in  her  folly  she  had  put  far  from  her. 

How  often  she  reproached  herself,  unjustly  too,  for  she 
was  not  alone  to  blame,  for  his  absence.  Every  disappoint 
ment,  every  misfortune  that  came  to  him,  arid  they  were 
many,  she  stored  up  against  herself  as  so  many  sins  for 
which  she  was  accountable.  But  now  her  father's  death  had 
relieved  her.  Her  duty  to  him  was  ended.  She  had  also 
received  as  a  share  of  his  estate,  a  small  sum  of  money  suf 
ficient  to  enable  them  to  begin  house-keeping  again  in  a 
modest  way.  She  would  have  an  opportunity  to  try  again, 
another  chance  to  do  right  by  John,  and  by  herself.  Thank 
heaven  always  for  another  chance  to  do  right.  So  she  sent 
the  white-winged,  love-laden  messenger  to  that  far  away  land, 
with  many  hopes  and  prayers  that  it  might  not  be  too  late. 

Weary  and  despondent,  John  Alden  lay  supinely  upon  his 
blankets  within  a  well  worn  tent.  All  up  and  down  the  river 
bed  from  which  the  waters  had  been  turned  by  a  wooden 
flume,  roughly  dressed  men  were  bending  over  pans  of  golden 
sand.  He  could  hear  an  occasional  shout  of  exultation  as 
some  fortunate  washer  secured  an  unusual  find,  and  he  could 
hear  also  the  curses  of  contention  and  the  groans  of  dis- 


THE    SQUATTEli    SOVEREIGN.  I  7 

appointment,  but  each,  and  all  fell  alike  unheeded  upon  his 
ear.  His  whole  being  was  inert.  Repeated  disappointments 
had  dried  up  the  well-spring  of  hope  which  had  once  bubbled 
high  within  him. 

Ah!  he  had  thought  himself  at  the  last  point  of  discourage 
ment  six  years  before,  when  weary  of  his  book-keeping — but 
this — this  was  exhaustion,  physical  and  mental. 

At  first  he  had  been  successful  and  had  even  been  able  to 
make  remittances  to  his  wife  and  child,  but  unfortunately  he 
imbibed  the  spirit  of  eagerness,  which  pervaded  the  time  and 
place,  and  worked  incessantly,  scarcely  allowing  himself  the 
hours  for  necessary  sleep.  Recreation  there  was  none  in 
which  he  cared  to  indulge.  This  unceasing  toil,  combined 
with  exposure  and  change  of  climate,  brought  on  an  illness 
during  which  all  that  he  had  accumulated  wasted  away. 
Money  does  not  last  long  when  one  is  sick,  among  strangers 
who  require  pay  for  every  slight  service. 

After  a  time  he  recovered  and  resumed  his  labors,  but 
without  marked  success.  His  next  pile,  the  result  of  a  years 
work,  was  stolen.  Then  "the  diggings"  of  that  vicinity 
seemed  to  be  exhausted  and  he  was  obliged  to  seek  another 
place. 

Cursing  his  luck,  and  yet  unwilling  ,to  give  up  and  return 
home  penniless,  John  Alden  worked  on  doggedly  and  per 
sistently  haunted  by  desperate  thoughts  of  what  his  fate  might 
ultimately  be,  should  he  thus  continue  his  exertions  deprived 
of  every  comfort,  and  subject  to  an  increasing  depression  of 
spirits  which  he  was  unable  to  throw  off. 

"Hallo  !  Buckeye,"  he  heard  a  rough  voice  say  in  kindly 
tones.  "  Hallo  pard,  ,old  fellow  !  wake  up,  here's  a  letter 
for  you." 

"A  letter  ?  give  it  to  me,"  and  the  thin  hand  clutched  the 
missive  eagerly. 

Gently  John  Alden's  fellow  exile  raised   his  weary  head 


l8  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

placing  beneath  it  his  own  bundle  of  blankets,  saying  as  he 
did  so  : 

"  There,  read  it  old  fellow,  it  will  do  you  good." 

It  was  Amy's  letter,  and  as  John  Alden  read  *he  loving 
words  he  seemed  to  hear  her  voice,  to  feel  her  presence. 
Slowly  the  tears  trickled  down  his  wan  cheeks,  and  as  their 
fountain  was  unsealed,  the  vital  forces  rallied,  and  life  and 
hope  once  more  came  back  to  him. 

He  slept  that' night  as  he  had  not  done  in  weeks  previous, 
and  in  his  dreams  he  was  again  at  home,  his  arm  was  round 
his  wife,  and  his  little  daughter  sat  upon  his  knee.  The  world 
was  bright  without,  for  his  heart  was  glad  within.  The 
voices  of  the  miners  singing  in  the  distance  a  favorite  song 
with  this  refrain: 

"  Can't  stav  in  the  wilderness, 
A  few  days,  a  few  days." 

sounded  like  the  chanting  of  angel  hosts. 

The  clear  cool  air  of  morning  woke  him  and  he  rose  with 
new  energy.  Yesterday  he  had  felt  like  an  old  man,  his 
knees  were  bent  together,  and  his  hands  trembled  with  weak 
ness;  to-day  he  was  a  young  man  again  and  there  was  cour 
age  in  his  heart,  and  strength  in  every  limb. 

Yes,  he  would  go  back.  The  dread  of  being  compas 
sionated  by  friends  and  relatives  as  a  "  failure ",  which  had 
hitherto  acted  as  a  spur  to  his  resolve  to  remain  until  he 
had  achieved  a  fortune,  was  for  the  time  forgotten,  what  cared 
he  for  wealth  if  Mary  and  Grace  were  but  with  him,  con 
tented  and  happy. 

And  now,  strange  to  say,  fickle  fortune  turned  about  and 
began  to  smile  upon  him,  like  a  wayward  flirt,  who  sees  with 
vexation  a  victim  escaping  from  her  toils.  His  washings  this 
morning  proved  richer  than  they  had  done  for  many  a  long 
day. 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  19 

He  accepted  her  proffered  favors,  dallying  but  long  enough 
however,  to  amass  a  sufficient  sum  to  carry  him  home  re 
spectably. 

The  overland  route  had  been  opened  by  Col.  Fremont. 
Trains  were  continually  coming  and  going  across  the  country, 
and  John  found  no  difficulty  in  securing  a  passage  homeward. 

Ah,  what  a  journey,  through  defile  and  seemingly  inaccess- 
sible  pass,  over  the  Rocky  Mountains  whose  towering  peaks 
reach  the  region  of  eternal  snows,  their  sides  covered  with 
pines  and  cedars,  the  beginning  of  whose  growth  dates  hack  to 
by-gone  ages,  their  branches  festooned  with  vines,  and  the 
sward  beneath  them  gay  with  flowers  of  every  hue. 

There  were  sparkling  cascades  crowned  with  rainbows 
dashing  from  romantic  and  inaccessible  cliffs.  There  were 
bubbling  rivulets,  and  placid  lakes,  gentle  slopes  and  dark 
canons,  all  combining  to  give  such  a  variety  to  the  route  that 
days  of  travel  with  a  slow  moving  freight  train  did  not  pro 
duce  weariness.  But  how  different  the  country  beyond;  a 
sterile  and  vast  level  expanse  covered  with  waving  lines  of 
sand  in  which  the  rivulets  are  lost  as  they  descend  from  the 
bare  ridges  around. 

John  Alden  was  introspectively  and  retrospectively  in 
clined,  and  the  long,  weary  days  required  to  cross  this  desert 
gave  him  time  to  muse  on  every  act  of  his  past  life,  to  analyze 
the  motives  which  had  actuated  him  and  to  reflect  upon  the 
consequences  which  had  followed,  and  there  were  still  left 
hours  and  days  which  he  gave  to  the  construction  of  a  vast  air 
castle  for  future  habitation. 

But  the  great  American  desert  has  a  limit,  and  leaving  it, 
the  train  entered  the  region  of  "Buffalo  Grass",  where  the 
monotony  was  occasionally  varied  by  the  starting  of  a  herd  of 
elk  or  buffalo.  Beyond  this  they  came  upon  fertile  rolling 
prairies,  watered  by  large  streams  skirted  by  heavv  timber, 
with  here  and  there  a  range  of  bluffs  whose  gray  tops  were 


20  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

capped  with  stone,  arranged  in  regular  layers  as  if  disposed  by 
the  hand  of  man,  and  for  a  purpose. 

"What  a  glorious  scene,"  exclaimed  John  Alden,  as  the 
train  halted  one  evening  on  the  top  of  a  high  hill,  two  days 
after  leaving  Fort  Riley,  then  upon  the  uttermost  bounds  of 
civilization;  "how  still,  how  peaceful  !  It  seems  as  if  the  rude 
passions  and  conflicting  interests  of  mankind  might  never 
break  its  calm  or  mar  its  harmony," 

To  the  east  he  looked  through  the  clear  atmosphere,  over 
ten  miles  of  rolling  prairie,  the  zig-zag  lines  of  timber  mark 
ing  the  courses  of  the  streams  with  waving  lines  of  green,  to 
a  range  of  hills  in  the  distance,  upon  whose  brown  tops  rested 
the  deep  blue  and  gold  horizon. 

To  the  north,  after  the  first  abrupt  descent  of  the  hill, 
there  was  a  gradual  slope,  then  almost  a  level,  beyond  which 
the  land  declined  to  meet  a  river  whose  sparkling  waters 
shadowed  on  their  surface  the  large  trees  which  fringed  the 
opposite  bank. 

Beyond  and  spreading  out,  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  lay 
a  fertile  and  broad  expanse,  the  small  patches  of  timber  visible 
here  and  there  resembling  the  orchards  of  an  old  settled 
country. 

A  large  mound  reared  its  shapely  form  to  the  south-west, 
whose  carpet  of  grass  was  marked  by  many  lines  of  brown, 
the  effect  of  the  intense  heat  of  the  summer  sun. 

Westward  lay  a  beautiful  valley,  beyond  that  a  high  hill, 
and  to  the  northwest  a  varied  scene,  hill  and  dale,  prairie  and 
woodland,  ravine  and  gently  flowing  river,  all  intensified  and 
glorified  by  the  brilliant  rays  of  the  setting  sun. 

And  as  John  stood  there  on  the  hill  top,  entranced  with  the 
beauty  of  the  land  on  every  side,  a  vague  idea  which  had 
taken  possession  of  him  since  having  learned  at  Fort  Riley 
that  the  territory  was  thrown  open  for  settlement,  shaped 
itself  definitely  and  became  resolve.  0 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  21 

As  he  neared  the  bounds  of  civilization  all  the  old  dread 
of  meeting  those  polite  assurances  of  sympathy  which  partake 
so  largely  of  pity,  and  which  to  him  savored  of  contempt,  had 
returned,  accompanied  with  a  horror  of  returning  from  the 
free  air  and  sunshine  to  the  old  treadmill  in  the  counting 
room. 

He  walked  down  to  the  river.  He  strolled  along  its 
hanks,  went  southward  to  the  little  creek,  then  westward  to 
the  mound,  and  the  moon  was  high  in  the  heavens  ere  he 
again  made  his  way  to  the  encampment,  but  his  resolution 
was  fixed. 

"Jake,"  said  he  the  next  morning  to  the  boss  of  the  train, 
a  good  natured  Dutchman,  to  whom  our  traveler  had  become 
indebted  for  many  kindly  offices  by  the  way,  . 

"Jake,  I  want  you  to  do  a  favor  for  me." 

"  So,  goot!  Meester  Alten,  speak  out  already,  and  it  vas 
done." 

"  Well,  Jake,  I  want  you  to  carry  a  letter  for  me  to  the 
nearest  post  office." 

"  Vat  for  you  not  yourself  go  ?" 

"  Because  I  have  decided  to  remain  here  and  invite  my 
wife  and  daughter  to  join  me;"  then  noting  the  Dutchman's 
look  of  amazement, 

"  I  shall  make  my  fortune  in  this  quiet  valley,  Jake." 

"Mein  Got  in  Himmel!  How  you  makes  him?  Not- 
tings  to  sell  unt  nopodv  to  puy.  Vare  you  get  your  money, 
hey,  Meester  Alten?"  and  Jake  planted  himself  squarely 
upon  this,  to  him,  unanswerable  argument. 

"I  shall  dig  it  from  the  earth,  perhaps,"  was  the  reply. 
And  in  spite  of  Jake's  protestations  that  he  wouldn't  find  a 
pan  of  "pay  dirt"  in  the  whole  valley,  and  a  very  emphatic 
assertion,  "  Meester  Alten  you  is  von  tarn  fool !"  John  re 
mained  firm. 

He  ordered  his  baggage  to  be  taken  from  the  train  and  car- 


22  TFE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

ried-to  the  valley  below;  and  soon  ufter,  with  great  bustle  and 
noise,  and  the  usual  amount  of  swearing,  the  train  was  got 
underway,  moving  its  slow  length  along  to  the  eastward,  and 
he  was  left  alone  on  the  prairie,  monarch  of  all  he  surveyed. 


CHAPTER  III. 

ON    THE    TOWN    SITE VISITORS. 

No  sooner  had  the  last  wagon  of  the  long  train  disap 
peared  in  the  distance,  than  a  revulsion  of  feeling  came  over 
him. 

"John  Alden,  you  are  a  fool !"  he  said  to  himself.  "  What 
do  you  expect  to  accomplish  on  this  wide  prairie,  alone.  It 
was  a  rash  impulse  that  bade  you  stop,  and  a  wise  man  would 
have  disregarded  it." 

Then  he  seated  himself  upon  his  box,  took  but  an  old  and 
cherished  pipe,  filled  it  with  tobacco,  lit  it,  assumed  an  easy 
position  and  judicial  frame  of  mind,  and  as  the  clouds  of 
smoke  went  curling  upward,  called  for  arguments  on  the 
other  side  of  the  question. 

"Your  head  is  level,"  said  the  attorney  for  the  opposite 
side.  "By  this  act  you  have  constituted,  yourself  a  Squatter 
Sovereign,  possessed  in  fee  simple  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  the  finest  land  the  sun  ever  shone  upon,  in  the  most 
beautiful  valley  in  the  world — a  very  respectable  amount  of 
moss  to  attach  to  a  rolling  stone.  You  have  learned  from 
others,  and  you  have  seen  for  yourself  that  people  are  coming 
into  the  territory  from  every  direction.  This  valley  is  near 
the  great  highway  and  others  will  soon  join  you.  At  any 
rate,  the  weather  is  warm,  your  tent  is  the  only  shelter  you 
need,  your  supply  of  provisions  is  sufficient  for  a  month,  that 
piece  of  timber-land  in  sight  certainly  contains  game,  and  the 
river,  fish.  You  have  the  prospect  of  sport  and  a  savory 
addition  to  your  bill  of  fare,  wherewith  I  rest  my  case." 

23 


24  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

The  decision  rendered  completely  restored  John  Alden's 
confidence  in  his  own  good  judgment,  and  he  began  to  look 
about  him.  Seeing  several  large  stones  in  juxtaposition,  he 
placed  his  tent  near  them.  Within,  he  put  blankets  in  one 
corner,  the  large  box  containing  provisions,  clothing,  etc.,  etc., 
in  another.  His  working  utensils  he  deposited  outside  on 
one  of  the  large  stones.  Then  he  undertook  to  search  for 
water,  and  found  a  small  spring  issuing  from  one  side  of  the 
ravine  to  the  north,  the  sides  of  which  were  covered  with  a 
thick  growth  of  underbrush.  Afrer  enjoying  a  cool  draught 
he  filled  his  coffee  pot  with  water,  and  carrying  with  him  a 
few  sticks  for  fuel,  returned  to  his  camp. 

Having  thus  disposed  of  his  household  affairs  with  a  wise 
forethought,  he  placed  a  package  of  crackers  and  dried  beef  in 
his  pocket,  and  taking  his  gun,  departed  on  a  tour  of  explor 
ation. 

It  was  a  long  tramp  in  the  hot  sun,  and  by  the  time  he 
reached  the  creek,  he  had  also  arrived  at  the  determination 
that  all  future  expeditions,  while  the 'warm  weather  continued, 
should  be  made  in  the  early  morning. 

After  resting  awhile,  however,  he  proceeded  slowly 
through  the  underbrush,  with  which  the  low  ground  was  cov 
ered,  and  after  a  trudge  of  several  miles,  was  rewarded  by  the 
sight  of  a  flock  of  wild  ducks  which  started  up  just  in  front 
of  him,  and  luckily  succeeded  in  bringing  down  three  at  a 
single  shot. 

Picking  up  the  game,  he  retraced  his  steps  to  a  small 
spring  of  water,  where  he  enjoyed  a  lunch  and  cool  drink, 
and  then  proceeded  to  return  slowly  to  the  tent,  wherein  he 
sought  shelter,  incapable  of  further  exertion  until  the  decline 
of  the  summer  sun  moderated  the  intense  heat.  Then,  issuin°- 

O 

forth,  he  dressed  the  game,  a  process  in  which  he  had  long 
since  become  an  expert,  built  a  fire,  placed  thereon  a  frying 
pan  and  coffee  pot.  Into  the  latter  he  put  some  coffee,  and  to 


26*  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

the  former  consigned  his  ducks,  with  a  little  bacon  to  pre 
vent  their  burning,  and  salt  and  pepper  to  flavor,  and  pres 
ently  served  up  with  great  satisfaction,  upon  a  large  flat  stone 
an  appetizing  meal,  to  which  he  brought  that  wholesome 
sauce,  a  good  appetite. 

Then  removing  the  remains  of  his  repast,  our  Squatter 
Sovereign  stretched  himself  out  on  the  grass  with  his  blankets 
rolled  up  for  a  pillow,  and  his  pipe  as  an  aid  to  digestion,  the 
blue  sky  lighted  by  the  silvery  moon  for  a  canopy,  and  his 
own  thoughts  for  company.  His  first  reflection  was:  "How 
very  simple  the  process  of  house-keeping  becomes  when 
under  the  sole  management  of  the  sterner  sex.  Left  to  man 
alone,  all  the  complicated  mysteries,  all  the  differentiations  of 
divers  courses,  and  devious  methods  of  preparation,  the  pomp 
and  circumstance,  the  expensive  paraphernalia  of  serving  dis 
appears,  and  the  creature  returns  to  the  simple  style  of  the 
aborigines,  which  style  possesses  double  advantages,  for  all 
elaborate  processes  of  dining  having  been  dispensed  with,  the 
labors  entailed  by  the  clearing  up  process  are  likewise 
avoided.  I  take  mine  ease  on  my  blanket,  and  the  kitchen 
work  awairs  my  pleasure." 

Presently  the  shining  river  visible  in  the  distance  invited 
to  a  bath  and  a  swim,  from  which  he  returned  to  enjoy  a 
night's  refreshing  slumber  within  his  tent. 

Several  days  passed  away  thus  with  little  variation,  save  in 
his  bill  of  fare,  quails,  prairie  chickens,  and  wild  pigeons,  each 
in  turn  gracing  the  stony  board. 

But  this  isolation  was  not  destined  to  continue  long.  E're 
it  became  positively  painful,  John  was  agreeably  startled  by 
the  sound  of  human  voices  and  the  clatter  of  horses  hoofs.  It 
was  in  the  early  morning,  and  he  was  inside  the  tent  engaged 
in  performing  the  duties  of  his  toilet,  which  consisted  chiefly 
in  putting  on  his  boots.  The  voices  were  not  pleasant,  on  the 
contrary,  they  were  harsh,  discordant  and  uncultivated,  but 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  27 

I 

the  sound  thrilled  him  with  oleasure   as  it  broke  upon   the 
solitude. 

«  Halloa  there  !  Halloa,  halloa  !" 
"Halloa  yourself!"  he  replied. 

'•  Come   out   here  and  show   your  colors,"   said  a   rough 
voice. 

"  They  are  true  blue,"  was  John's  reply  as  he  stepped  to 
the  door  of  the  tent  and  confronted  three  rough  looking  cus 
tomers  on  three  very  fine-looking  horses.  They  were  well 
armed,  having  pistols  and  knives  strapped  in  their  belts,  and 
an  additional  bowie  peeping  from  their  boots.  They  all  wore 
slouch  hats,  but  here  the  resemblance  ceased.  The  first,  who 
seemed  to  be  the  leader,  was  a  medium-sized,  tolerably  well 
made  man.  He  had  long  brown  hair,  weather  beaten  features 
and  gray  restless  eyes,  His  mouth,  though'quite  large  might 
not  have  been  disagreeable  but  for  an  inveterate  habit  of 
chewing  tobacco,  that  had  drawn  down  the  left  corner,  from 
which  a  little  brooklet  of  the  juice  of  the  weed  trickled  con 
stantly  down  his  chin.  He  wore  butternut  pants  of  Kentucky 
jeans,  and  a  bright  blue  flannel  shirt  embroidered  on  the  front 
and  back  with  red  wool.  The  expression  of  his  face  indicated 
the  predominance  of  the  selfish  propensities.  His  movements 
and  voice  displayed  energetic  aggressiveness  and  combative- 
ness.  He  would  not  hesitate  to  posess  himself  of  that  which 
he  desired,  forcibly  if  necessary,  and  would  enjoy  it  the  more 
for  the  effort. 

The  second  was  decidedly  different  in  physique  ana  in 
character  as  well,  if  facial  expression  can  give  indication  of 
what  lies  beneath.  He  was  long,  lean,  lank  and  loose-jointed, 
slow  of  movement  and  of  speech,  was  too  indolent  for  much 
exertion,  and  yet  when  roused  might  perhaps  exceed  the  other 
in  strength.  There  was  a  more  frank  look  in  his  face,  though 
even  less  of  symmetry,  his  chin  protruding  and  his  cheek 
bones  rising  high,  while  his  nose  was  short  and  broad.  He 


28  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

too  wore  the  jeans  pants,  but  they  were  blue,  matching  his 
shirt,  and  upon  his  neck  he  wore  a  massive  gold  chain,  while 
several  very  striking  rings  were  upon  his  fingers. 

The  third  was  a  little  weazen-faced  dried-up  Irishman,  whose 
red  shirt  matched  his  hair  in  color,  and  whose  blue  eyes  snapped 
and  sparkled  inquisitively  as  he  sat  uneasily  on  his  horse,  and 
that  the  evident  disappointment  and  surprise  which  John's  ap 
pearance  created,  may  be  understood,  it  must  be  stated  that  he 
was  himself  the  roughest  looking  customer  in  the  group. 
His  hair  and  beard,  slightly  tinged  with  gray,  were  long,  his 
boots  old,  his  buckskin  pants  considerably  worse  for  wear* 
and  he  too  wore  the  blue  shirt,  but  t'was  faded  in  color,  and 
the  embroidered  figures  on  the  front  and  back  were  but  faintly 
visible.  Judged  by  externals  he  was  "  one  of  them,"  and  a 
most  dilapidated  one,  and  the  answer  he  had  given  "  true  blue" 
happened  to  be  one  of  the  pass-words  of  their  order,  con 
sequently  when  he  emerged  from  the  tent  and  drew  himself 
up  to  his  full  height  before  them,  they  looked  at  him  and 
then  at  each  other  and  burst  into  a  loud  laugh. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  John  indignantly,  "  have  you  come 
here  to  insult  me  ?" 

The  leader  now  managed  to  control  his  risibles  sufficiently 
to  ejaculate:  "  Euchred  by  hokey!  and  a  moment  afterward 
continued:  "  Stranger  the  larf  comes  in  on  us,  we  haint  got 
nothin  agin  you.  You're  all  right  on  the  goose,  any  fool 
can  see  that  with  half  an  eye.  But  here  was  us  three  fellars» 
ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  border-ruffians  we  are,  stranger,  riclin  like  mad 
down  to  this  here  tent,  darnation  sure  as  we'd  treed  a  dog- 
gauned  biled-shirted  abolitionist,  and  to  see  you  walk  out,  so 
kinder  cool  like,  in  that  ar  uniform,  gin  us  a  set  back,  well  it 
did!"  and  he  laughed  again. 

"  Whar  did  you  come  from  any  way  old  hoss?"  "And 
bejabers!"  cried  Pat,  "ye  must  have  dhropped  down  from 
the  sky  I'm  thin  kin'.  It's  on  the  rampage  we've  bin  now 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  29 

for  a  wake,  guardin  of  the  country  forninst,"  pointing  to 
the  east,  "  and  niver  a  b'y  have  we  seen  with  a  pack  on 
his  back  comin  into  the  territory." 

"Well  gentlemen,"  said  John,  "dismount  and  smoke  the 
pipe  of  peace  with  me,  and  I  will  give  you  all  the  information 
about  myself  you  desire." 

They  accepted  his  invitation  by  dismounting  immediately, 
turning  their  horses  loose  to  graze  upon  the  prairie.  Pat 
first  unwinding  a  strap  which  was  fastened  about  the  neck  of 
each  animal,  and  which  hanging  loosely  served  to  seize  them 
by,  when  they  were  again  wanted.  John  in  the  meantime, 
brought  forth  his  tobacco  box,  each  man  furnished  his  own 
pipe,  the  stones  before  mentioned  served  as  seats,  and  they 
were  soon  puffing  away,  a  picturesque  group — the  Irishman 
with  his  red  shirt  and  hair  of  the  same  hue,  giving  color  to 
the  scene. 

Our  Squatter  opened  the  conversation  by  stating:  "My 
name  is  John  Alden,  and  I  came  here  on  a  return  trip  from 
the  west.  I've  been  to  the  mines — 

"  An'  g-g-got  b-b-busted,"  stammered  the  long,  lean 
visitor,  which  caused  another  laugh  in  which  Alden  himself 
joined,  as  he  replied — 

"  Well,  yes,  I  am  pretty  well  used  up,  it  is  true ;  but  I've 
got  a  nice  piece  of  land  here,  which  I  propose  to  make 
something  out  of." 

"  Bully  for  you!"  shouted  the  other  Missourian,  slapping 
John  familiarly  on  the  back.  "  You're  a  hoss!  You're  a  gol 
darned  snorter!  an'  you've  struck  it  rich  this  time.  You've 
squatted  right  squar'  on  the  town  site." 

"  What  town  site?"  Alden  inquired  in  surprise;  "  Why, 
the  dog-gon  Abolitionist  town  site,  of  course.  There's  a 
whole  company  on  em,  drat  'em !  comin'  up  here,  an'  we 
heered  they  wor  a  kalkilatin'  to  lay  out  a  town  on  the  Kaw, 
beyond  the  mouth  of  the  Areposa.  In  course,  this  must  be 


30  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

the  place.  An'  now  you've  got  it,  you- hold  on  to  it.  We'll 
stand  by  yer.  I'm  Zeke  Fagin,  otherwise  known  as  Pine- 
knot  Zeke,  'cos  I'm  hard  to  lick,  ye  see;  and  this  hyer's  Sile 
Hardiker,  he  aint  much  on  the  talk,  but  git  him  roused,  mad 
him,  stranger,  an'  he  can  fight  like  thunder.  That  ar's  Pat 
Malone;  he's  little,  but  he's  tough,  an'  he  hates  niggers  like 
sin.1' 

"An  nagur  worshippers  like  the  divil!"  put  in  Pat. 

"  We'll  stand  by  yer,"  continued  Zeke;  "Jist  plant  yer- 
self  hyer,  and  we'll  back  >er." 

"  Ya-as,  we'll  b-b-b-b-back  yer,"  said  Sile  approvingly. 

"And  faith,  its  good  backin'  there  is  forninst  us,"  said  Pat; 
"  Swhorn  to  clane  out  the  nagur  worshippers  intirely,  begorra! 
A  shwate  time  they'll  have  of  it  sure,  makin'  a  free  shtate  of 
this  territory." 

"They've  no  right  here,"  said  Zeke;  "Let  'em  go  to 
Nebrasky,  where  they  belong.  Yanks  and  Sons  of  the  South 
wont  do  to  mix.  Stranger,  we've  took  a  solemn  oath,  by  the 
Eternal!  to  make  this  a  slave  state,  an'  we  mean  to  do  it. 
The  fellers  are  all  drillin'  over  thar  an'  gittin'  ready  for  the 
fun.  The  big-bugs  furnish  the  ammunition  and  whisky,  an' 
us  fellers  furnish  the  grit." 

"  Och,  whishky!  cried  Pat;  "  Shmoke  is  a  good  thing, 
Misther  Alden,  but  whishky  is  a  better;  an'  by  me  troth,  I 
like  a  little  of  both." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  John,  "  I  am  very  sorry  that  I  have  no 
liquor  of  any  kind  to  offer  you." 

"Murther!"  screamed  Pat;  "Did  you  ever  hear  the  likes 
of  it?  Shquattin'  on  the  lone  prairie,  and  niver  a  dhrop  of 
the  crather  to  cheer  him  the  whiles.  It's  a  case  of  pauper 
ism  I  see  before  me. 

"T-t-t-take  up  a  c-c-collection!"  stuttered  Sile. 

Pat  immediately  sprang  up,  seized  Alden's  cup,  poured 
some  liquor  from  his  own  bottle  into  it,  and  passed  it  to  each 

i 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  3! 

of  his  companions  who  did  the  same,  then  handing  it  to  John, 
he  said : 

"  We'll  drink  now,  '  Success  to  the  sons  of  the  South.'" 
Remembering  the  old  adage,  "  When  in  Rome,  do  as  Romans 
do,"  John  discreetly  raised  the  cup  to  his  lips,  but  managed 
to  spill  some  of  the  liquid  unperceived  to  the  ground.  The 
smell  of  it  was  enough  for  him,  but  his  visitors  seemed  to  rel 
ish  it,  for  each  took  a  long  pull  at  his  respective  bottle. 

"  The  b'yes  will  shtick  to  the  Colonel,  while  the  whishky 
howlds  out,"  said  Pat. 

Long  Sile's  eyes  flashed  as  he  stammered : 

"  The  S-s-sons  of  the  South  w-w-will  stick  to  the  bitter 
end,  d-d-darn  ver,  1-1-1  icker  or  no  licker." 

Little  Pat  might  have  been  annihilated  then  and  there, 
but  Zeke  came  to  the  rescue. 

"Here,  Pat,"  said  he,  "  You  git  them  horses  up;  we've 
got  to  stake  out  our  claims  in  this  hyer  valley,  an'  git  back  to 
Bean's  cabin  to  meet  the  boys  to-night."  Turning  to  Aklcn, 
he  said,  "We've  got  no  call  to  interfere  with  you;  but  our 
instructions  from  the  Colonel  are  to  hold  this  valley  and  pre 
vent  the  Yanks  from  gittin'  in." 

"Are  you  going  to  settle  on  the  land?"  Alden  inquired. 

"  Wa-al,  no.  At  least,  not  now ;  but  we're  goin'  to  put 
our  mark  on  it,  and  hold  it  too. 

The  horses  being  brought  up  by  this  time  they  were  soon 
galloping  off,  and  in  the  south  John  saw  them  pause; 
and  on  examination  afterward,  he  found  that  each  man  had 
set  up  a  stake,  tacked  to  it  a  card  with  his  name  on,  and  also 
a  threat  of  death  to  any  one  who  should  disregard  this  notice 
and  presume  to  take  up  the  land  as  a  claim. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

NEW    FRIENDS. 

Two  clays  longer  John  Alden  held  undisputed  sway,  and 
then  a  number  of  men  on  horseback,  followed  by  a  long  line 
of  wagons  and  carriages,  bringing  freight  and  passengers, 
came  bearing  down  upon  him  from  the  east. 

The  iron  wheels  crushed  pitilessly  the  tender  grass  and 
bright  flowers  on  the  bosom  of  the  virgin  prairie,  and  there 
was  no  outcry;  but  the  echoing  hills  resounded  cheerily,  in  a 
new  key,  to  the  sound  of  many  human  voices, — those  hills 
whose  tones  till  late  had  but  replied  to  the  wild  bird's  call, 
the  baying  of  the  wolf,  and  the  gutteral  accents  of  the  savage. 
The  placid  river  flowing  idly  to  the  sea,  now  gently  and  now 
swiftly,  to  suit  the  mood  of  wind  and  current,  shadowed  back 
in  the  sunshine  the  new  faces  which  bent  over  her,  as  if  in 
welcome,  and  cooled  the  heated  hands  which  rippled  her 
bright  surface,  unknowing  or  unheeding  the  harsh  fact  that 
those  same  hands  had  come  to  chain  her  waters  to  the  wheel. 

So  gently,  Nature  bends  herself  to  do  the  will  of  man,  the 
conqueror. 

From  the  height  on  which  John  Alden  stood  when  first 
looking  down  on  the  quiet  valley,  he  saw  them  come,  wit 
nessed  all  the  pleasant  commotion  of  alighting,  the  stretching 
of  limbs  which  is  so  grateful  after  long  confinement  in  an  un 
comfortable  position — saw  little  groups  of  two  or  three,  or 
more,  scattering  off  in  various  directions,  others  attending  to 
the  horses,  and  still  others  unloading  and  opening  various 
boxes  as  if  to  make  preparations  for  the  evening  meal. 

32 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  33 

One  party  set  up  a  tent  on  the  side  of  the  hill  on  which 
Alden  stood,  and  ever  and  anon  the  sound  of  cultivated  voices 
came  floating  up  to  him  with  memories  of  home  in  every 
accent.  Suddenly  in  the  presence  of  this  busy  scene  in  which 
he  had  no  lot  or  part,  a  sense  of  unutterable  loneliness  came 
over  him,  and  stealing  down  by  a  side-path  he  made  his  way 
to  his  tent,  hoping  to  hide  his  buckskin  pants  and  blue  shirt, 
of  whose  hideousness  he  had  all  at  once  become  conscious, 
within  its  sheltering  folds,  when  a  voice  called  out  in  friendly 
tones  the  accustomed  salutation : 
"  Halloa  there  stranger  !" 

And  he  was  constrained  to  reply : 

"  Halloa  yourself !" 

The  interlocutor  was  a  tall,  hatched-faced  individual  with 
an  inquiring  expression  of  countenance,  an  unmistakable  son 
of  Vermont,  and  he  continued  : 

"Is  this  your  tent?" 

Alden  replied  in  the  affirmative: 

"  How  long  have  you  been  here?" 

"  A  week  yesterday." 

"A  native  of  Missouri,  I  guess?" 

"  You  guess  wrong,  try  again." 

"Arkansas  then,  or  Alabama?" 

He  shook  his  head.  Quite  a  group  had  by  this  time  gath 
ered  around  them  and  another  voice  suggested  : 

"  Illinois  sure!" 

"  No." 

"  Kentucky  ?"     Still  another  asked. 

"  Wrong  still." 

"Indiana?" 

"  Wrong  again." 

"Well  where  in  thunder  did  you  come  from  then?"  said 
the  Vermonter,  "  I'll  give  it  up." 

"Well,"  said  John,  "  I  came  from  Northern  Ohio,  and  can 


34  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

boast  of  as  good  Yankee  blood  as  any  of  you."  There  was  a 
laugh  and  an  expression  of  incredulity  on  every  face,  but 
when  he  explained  that  he  had  come  to  the  territory  by  way 
of  the  Isthmus  and  California,  and  had  been  six  years  on  the 
way,  incredulity  gave  way  to  kindly  interest,  and  he  was  soon 
quite  at  home  among  them. 

Alden  evinced  friendly  feelings  by  guiding  them  to  the 
spring  in  the  ravine,  and  also  taught  them  how  to  build  a  fire 
on  scientific  principles,  by  digging  a  hole  in  the  ground  and 
then  arranging  the  sticks  in  such  a  manner  that  the  draught 
should  be  from  beneath,  carrying  the  smoke  off  with  the  wind. 
This  settled  his  status  with  that  mess,  and  he  received  an  in 
vitation  to  take  supper  with  them,  which  was  gladly  accepted. 

During  the  meal,  which,  though  served  in  the  open  air 
from  the  top  of  several  large  boxes  and  cooked  under  many 
disadvantages,  yet  was  the  nearest  approach  to  the  civilized 
manner  of  doing  things  which  John  Alden  had  enjoyed  for 
many  a  long  day,  he  learned  many  things  of  interest.  His 
messmates  informed  him  that  they  came  under  the  auspices  of 
the  "New  England  Emigrant  Aid  Society"  an  association 
formed  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  emigration  on  a  large 
scale,  thus  securing  reduced  rates  for  passengers  and  freight, 
the  use  of  capital  for  building  store-rooms,  hotels,  mills,  etc., 
and  besides  avoiding  that  isolation  from  society  which  under 
the  old  method  rendered  the  life  of  the  pioneer  so  dreary. 
He  also  learned  much  of  the  political  condition  of  the  country 
which  in  his  exile  had  come  to  him,  if  at  all,  in  such  a  man 
ner  as  to  make  little  impression  on  his  mind. 

The  triumph  of  the  slave-power  in  the  passage  of  the 
fugitive  slave-law,  the  enforcement  of  which  roused  the  latent 
sense  of  justice  in  many  Northern  hearts,  the  repeal  of  the 
Missouri  Compromise— that  breaking  of  the  plighted  faith, 
which  proved  the  last  straw  on  the  back  of  that  patient  camel, 
northern  forbearance. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  35 

Then  came  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  act,  which 
with  its  different  interpretations  North  and  South,  transferred 
the  scene  of  conflict  from  legislative  halls  to  distant  prairies. 

All  this  came  to  him  with  force,  as  related  in  eloquent  and 
stirring  language  by  his  new  friend  Langtry,  the  Vermonter. 
"  And,"  he  continued,  "  we  accept  this  issue  thus  forced  upon 
us  and  propose  to  fight  this  battle  to  the  bitter  end."  His 
words  so  prophetic  of  his  own  fate  called  to  Alden's  mind 
what  Sile  Hardiker  had  asserted  of  the  sons  of  the  South, 
and  he  related  the  incident  of  his  Missouri  visitors. 

"  We  shall  not  be  dismayed  by  these  threats,"  said 
Langtry,  "  we  have  received  numerous  warnings  on  our  route, 
that  it  would  be  dangerous  for  us  to  attempt  to  make  a  settle 
ment,  but  we  have  not  come  so  many  hundreds  of  miles  to  be 
turned  back  by  threatening  words." 

The  next  morning  John  Alden  received  a  message  to  pre 
sent  himself  in  the  tent  of  the  leader  of  the  colony,  Dr.  Francis 
Rulison.  Desiring  to  appear  as  presentable  as  possible,  he 
went  to  his  box,  dived  into  its  depths  profound,  and  drew 
from  thence  a  time-honored  shirt  whose  yellow  folds  sug 
gested  faintly  the  opprobrious  epithet  "  biled,"  at  the  same 
time  however,  fixing  the  era  of  that  process  far  back  in  the 
dim  and  shadowy  past.  A  pair  of  pants  which  had  made  the 
round  trip  in  undisturbed  security,  his  boots  fresh  blackened, 
a  straw  hat  he  had  purchased  from  one  of  the  new  comers, 
and  his  hair  and  beard  cut  into  comeliness  by  another, 
completed  the  costume  in  which  to  receive  his  introduction 
to  the  free-state  chief. 

He  found  Dr.  Rulison  seated  on  a  camp  chair,  by  the  side 
of  a  small  table,  within  a  large  tent  used  as  an  office  for  the 
transaction  of  business.  Books  and  papers  upon,  and  inside  a 
large  box,  which  served  as  table  and  writing-desk,  and  several 
additional  camp  chairs,  completed  the  list  of  furnishings. 

He  was  a  man  of  grave  and  dignified  demeanor,  calm- 


36  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

ness  and  equability  were  engraved  upon  his  countenance, 
coolness  and  caution  expressed  in  every  movement.  In  per 
son  he  was  tall,  well  made  and  commanding,  with  brown 
hair  and  a  keen  grayish  blue  eye,  which  seemed  to  look  one 
through  and  through.  In  a  pleasant  voice  he  bade  John  be 
seated,  and  then  said  kindly : 

"  I  understand  you  have  been  in  possession  of  a  part  of 
this  valley  for  some  days." 

"A  week  to-day,"   was  the  reply. 

"And  did  you  intend  to  pre-empt  the  land  with  a  view  to 
making  a  settlement?" 

44 1  did,  sir;  and  have  written  my  wife  to  come  and  join 
me." 

"  In  that  case  we  must  endeavor  to  compromise  the  mat 
ter  with  you.  Have  you  any  reason  for  preferring  this  par 
ticular  spot  as  the  site  of  your  future  home?" 

"  None  sir,  except  its  rare  beauty.  It  was  that  which 
first  suggested  to  me  the  thought  of  remaining,  and  induced 
me  to  leave  tne  homeward  bound  train,  and  take  possession 
of  it. 

"Ah !  you  did  not  know  then  that  we  intended  bringing  a 
colony  to  this  point?" 

"  I  did  not  hear  of  it  until  afterward.  Several  Missouri- 
aiis,  who  came  a  few  days  ago,  and  who  have  also  set  up 
stakes  in  the  valley,  informed  me  of  your  coining;  but  I  was 
uncertain  as  to  the  reliability  of  the  information." 

"As  to  their  claims,  we  shall  disregard  them.  They  are 
not  bona  fide  settlers  and  never  intend  to  become  such;  but 
finding  you  in  actual  possession,  we  are  obliged  to  make 
terms  with  you." 

This  did  not  prove  a  difficult  matter,  however.  Alden 
was  anxious  to  retain  the  favor  and  companionship  of  his  new 
found  friends,  and  felt  more  than  satisfied  with  his  investment 
of  a  week's  time,  when  in  return  for  vacating  his  Squatter 


"I  SENDS   FOR  MY  KATRINA. 


38  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

right  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  the  town  site,  he 
received  a  membership  in  the  town  company  entitling  him  to 
twenty  lots  and  a  vote  in  all  the  affairs  of  the  "association," 
besides  a  good  team  of  horses  and  a  wagon,  while  his  right  of 
pre-emption  still  remained  intact,  and  he  could  look  about  and 
select  a  place  somewhere  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  city, 
that  was  to  be. 

An  arrangement  had  been  made  by  the  town  company 
for  mail  connection  with  the  outside  world,  so  he  immedi 
ately  dispatched  a  letter  to  his  wife,  giving  her  a  detailed 
account  of  all  that  had  taken  place  during  the  past  week,  the 
advantageous  arrangement  he  had  made  with  the  town  com 
pany,  and  his  strong  desire  to  begin  life  again,  surrounded  by 
the  earnest  hopeful  spirits  of  his  new  associates.  In  the 
evening  at  a  regular  meeting  of  the  town  association,  it  was 
decided  to  call  the  new  place  Warsaw,  a  name  which  sug 
gested  the  idea  of  what  its  founders  intended  it  should  become 
— a  stronghold  of  freedom.  The  conical  hill  to  the  south 
west  was  named  Greenmound,  and  the  high  mount  to  the 
west  called  Mount  Olympus. 

The  next  day  the  members  of  the  town  company,  John 
Alden  included,  set  off  in  various  directions  to  look  up  desira 
ble  claims.  As  he  was  now  the  proprietor  of  a  vehicle  of 
transportation,  quite  a  number  of  persons,  among  them  his 
first  acquaintance  and  interlocutor,  Mr.  Langtry,  wished  to 
accompany  him;  and  the  latter  suggested  that  timberktnd 
would  be  most  likely  to  yield  immediate  returns,  as  the  saw 
mill  furnished  by  the  "Aid  Society,"  would  soon  arrive  and 
lumber  become  a  cash  article. 

Acting  upon  this  suggestion,  Alden  turned  his  horses' 
heads  toward  the  south,  striking  the  Areposa  creek  and  fol 
lowing  its  course  as  it  flows  north-east  to  join  the  Kaw.  As 
they  drove  over  the  beautiful  prairie  country,  one  by  one, 
those  who  accompanied  them,  attracted  by  the  beauty  of 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  39 

some  particular  spot,  alighted  from  the  wagon  to  take  pos 
session,  until  Langtry  and  Alden  were  left  alone,  and  these 
two  continued  onward  until  they  reached  a  good  fording 
place,  and  then  crossed  the  creek  to  an  extensive  tract  of  tim 
ber  which  lay  on  the  opposite  side.  So  large  were  the  trees 
and  the  wood  of  such  excellent  quality,  that  they  decided  the 
distance  from  Warsaw  of  small  importance;  besides  there 
stretched  out  beyond  the  woods  a  beautiful  prairie  tract 
where  they  hoped  to  be  able  to  purchase  land  for  farming 
purposes,  if  a  sufficient  quantity  to  meet  their  needs  did  not, 
on  survey  being  made,  come  within  the  limits  of  the  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  which  they  had  the  right  to  pre-empt. 

Here  they  halted  and  remained  during  the  day,  examining 
and  selecting  lands  and  hewing  a  few  logs  to  be  used  in 
improvements,  agreeing  to  work  together  and  to  build  their 
cabins  as  near  each  other  as  possible. 

Langtry  was  quite  communicative  and  related  during  the 
day, many  things  concerning  his  former  life,  none  of  which 
tendered  to  lessen  the  great  respect  Alden  had  conceived  for 
him.  He  was  thirty-six  years  old,  and  had  been  a  farmer  all 
his  life,  having  inherited  from  his  father,  one  of  those  rocky 
little  places  in  Vermont,  where  the  stones  stubbornly  dis 
pute  proprietorship  with  man,  for  almost  every  rod  of  ground. 
He  had  inherited  also  the  family  mortgage,  which  he  had 
early  resolved  to  liquidate  ere  he  married ;  and  this  resolution 
he  adhered  to  steadily,  until  the  age  of  thirty,  when  hav 
ing  vanquished  that  arch  enemy,  debt,  he  became  enamored 
of,  and  married  a  lady  some  ten  years  his  junior.  She  was 
the  orphan  daughter  of  a  Unitarian  clergyman,  was  the 
teacher  of  the  village  school,  and  it  was  her  unfriended 
lot,  as  well  as  her  beauty  of  character  and  sympathetic,  impuls 
ive  nature,  which  had  attracted  him  towards  her.  The  mar 
riage,  though  childless,  had  proved  a  happy  one,  and  he 
already  looked  forward  with  eager  anticipation  to  the  end  of 


4°  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

this  their  first  separation.  He  was  quite  liberal  in  his  relig 
ious  views,  having  become  an  ardent  disciple  of  Theodore 
Parker,  whose  noble  sentiments  and  eloquent  words  had  at 
this  time  stirred  the  fountains  of  New  England  thought  to 
their  depths.  In  politics  he  was  a  radical  abolitionist,  the 
question  of  slavery  having  swallowed  up  all  others  in  his 
mind. 

Of  course,  John  Alden  gave  him   confidences   in  return, 
and  from  that  day  they  became  warm  friends. 

Towards  evening  they  returned  to  Warsaw,  picking  up 
their  passengers  of  the  morning  by  the  way.  And  this  they 
continued  to  do  for  some  time.  The  town  was  their  base  of 
supplies,  and  besides  there  was  a  charm  in  the  meetings  held 
for  conference  and  discussion.  Seated  on  the  ground,  on 
camp-chairs,  boxes,  or  whatever  else  could  be  pressed  into 
service,  in  front  of  the  business  tent,  members  related  to  each 
other  the  various  incidents  of  the  day,  giving  descriptions 
of  the  claims  they  had  taken,  stating  their  plans  and  pros 
pects  of  making  them  profitable.  There  were  many  crude 
ideas  and  wild  projects  indulged  in  by  some  of  the  members 
of  the  comparv;  but  the  majority  were  sober-minded  men 
with  reasonable  hopes,  and  all  seemed  inspired  by  the  con 
sciousness  that  their  acts  were  not  self  regarding  alone,  but 
they  were  each  a  factor  in  the  great  combination  which  was 
to  mold  the  institutions  of  this  vast  and  fertile  territory  into 
conformity  with  the  enduring  principles  of  justice. 

Many  of  them  were  unaccustomed  to  hard  labor,  and 
weary  limbs  and  blistered  hands  were  the  result  of  their 
attempts  to  hew  out  homes  from  the  raw  material  which 
nature  had  provided.  Those  who  had  taken  prairie  claims 
were  awaiting  the  advent  of  the  saw-mill,  as  it  was  really 
cheaper  for  them  in  building,  to  use  boards  rather  than  logs, 
and  the  labor  of  fashioning:  them  much  less. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE    FIRST    INVASION. 

For  three  weeks  the  two  friends  worked  on  in  the  best  of 
spirits.  Pleasant  companionship  sweetens  toil  and  each  task 
willingly  performed  accelerates  the  motions  of  the  wheels 
of  time. 

Langtry  had  hewn  out  logs  for  his  house,  and  with 
John's  assistance  and  the  use  of  his  team,  had  drawn  them  to 
a  piece  of  rising  ground  beyond  the  timber. 

Another  day  and  they  were  to  have  a  "  raising,"  that  is 
a  number  of  their  friends  were  coming  from  Warsaw  to  help 
them  rear  the  ponderous  walls  of  the  new  structure.  They 
had  made  great  preparations  for  the  event,  laying  in  quite  a 
stock  of  provisions  including  game  from  the  surrounding 
woods. 

As  soon  as  the  "raising"  was  over  and  the  cabin  roofed 
and  chinked,  it  would  be  in  some  measure  fitted  for  woman's 
habitation,  and  then  Langtry's  wife,  Agnes  he  called  her, 
would  come  to  him.  She  was  now  in  Iowa  with  friends, 
anxiously  awaiting  a  summons. 

Alden  had  contented  himself  with  hewing  out  a  pile  of  logs 
ready  for  transportation  to  the  mill,  knowing  that  they  would 
bring  ready  cash  in  case  Amy  decided  adversely  to  joining 
him.  He  had  not  yet  heard  from  her,  but  felt  sure  the  next 
week's  mail  would  bring  him  a  letter. 

August  had  declined  into  September,  and  here  and  there 
the  trees  were  taking  on  a  tinge  of  yellow  and  red.  Gentle 
breezes  from  the  north  occasionally  prevailed  over  the  warm 

41 


42  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

winds  from  the  south.  The  wild  grapes  and  plums  with 
which  the  woods  abounded,  were  thoroughly  ripe,  and  as  a 
last  preparation,  our  friends  had  gathered  some  of  the  finest  to 
serve  for  the  morrow's  dinner,  and  as  they  lifted  on  the  wagon 
bed  that  had  been  removed  to  permit  the  hauling  of  logs,  and 
harnessed  the  horses  that  they  might  return  to  Warsaw,  they 
were  in  a  boyishly  exultant  mood. 

"To-morrow  night"  said  Langtry  striking  an  attitude  and 
pointing  his  emphasis  with  a  significant  gesture, 

"  My  castle-walls  shall  proudly  rear, 
O'er  looking  all  this  wide  domain." 

"I  say  Alden,"  he  continued,  "don't  you  think  we  had 
better  sleep  here  at  least  a  part  of  the  time  hereafter." 

"It  might-be  well,"  John  replied,  "as  actual  possession  is 
necessary  to  pre-emption  you  know." 

"  I  hardly  think  any  one  will  dispute  our  ownership  when 
they  see  how  well  we  have  carved  out  our  rights  on  this 
timber,  but  if  we  sleep  here  we  shall  feel  more  as  if  it  were 
really  our  home,  and  we  shall  get  on  faster  with  our  work." 

"  Very  well,  I  will  bring  up  my  tent  and  place  it  on  my 
side  of  the  road,  and  then  we  can  take  turns  staying  all  night 
with  each  other,  as  we  did  with  our  young  friends  in  boy 
hood's  days." 

"  By  jove,  that's  a  good  idea,  and  we  will  begin  to-morrow 
night,  but  hark!  what's  that?" 

"I  don't  know  I'm  sure,  its  a  queer  noise  to  be  heard  on 
these  prairies.  It  sounds  like  a  jollification  in  a  miner's  camp. 
Take  the  team,  Langtry  please,  behind  the  thicket  yonder, 
while  I  go  to  the  road  and  reconnoitre." 

He  did  so,  and  securing  a  place  where  he  could  observe 
without  being  seen,  John  Alden  witnessed  the  approach  of 
the  advance  guard  of  the  "  Sons  of  the  South".  In  wagons 
and  on  horseback,  pistols  in  their  belts,  and  bowie  knives  in 
their  boots,  red-shirted, .  coatless  and  with  battered  hats, 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  43 

weather-beaten,  loud-voiced,  swearing,  halloing  and  singing  to 
the  music  of  two  violins,  accompanied  by  an  occasional  blast 
on  an  ear-piercing  dinner  horn,  they  came,  while  now  and 
then  a  shot  from  a  musket  gave  warning  that  their  expedition 
was  a  war-like  one.  Each  wagon  bore  "  A  Banner  with  a 
strange  device,"  a  lone  star  or  a  lion  rampant  on  a  blood-red 
ground,  above  some  soul-inspiring  motto,  such  as  "  war  to  the 
death",  "  knife  to  the  hilt ",  "  no  quarter  to  abolitionists".  The 
banner-poles  were  decorated  on  the  tops  with  an  inverted 
whiskey  bottle,  beneath  which  bowie  knives  were  crossed  and 
secured  by  long  streamers  of  hemp,  and  each  man  wore  a 
suggestive  badge  of  the  latter,  tied  in  his  button-hole. 

And,  ever  and  anon,  as  they  continued  on  their  way,  the 
festive  jug  went  round,  and  louder  still  the  clamor  grew,  as 
each  potation  swelled  each  empty  head,  till  out  of  all  propor 
tion  grew  each  man's  conception  of  his  own  exploits,  and 
each  essayed  in  turn,  and  all  at  once,  to  wake  that  admiration 
in  his  fellows  which  he  felt  his  wondrous  feats,  so  thrillingly 
related,  should  excite. 

Zeke  Fagin  was  there,  his  burly  form  sat  proudly  on  his 
handsome  horse.  The  red  head  of  Pat  was  plainly  visible 
and  the  lank  visage  of  Sile  Hardiker. 

The  three  rode  in  the  van  and  under  their  guidance  the 
procession  wound  its  way  down  through  the  timber  to  the 
ford  and  onward  towards  the  free-state  settlement. 

As  they  entered  upon  the  town  site,  the  invading  hosts  did 
not  as  might  have  been  expected,  precipitate  an  attack,  but 
turned  aside,  crossed  to  the  north  of  the  ravine  and  there 
intrenched  themselves. 

They  were  perhaps  one  hundred  in  number,  and  when 
with  the  shades  of  night  the  free  state  men  had  all  gathered 
in,  they  were  of  equal  strength  though  but  sixty  of  them  were 
armed. 

The  first  instruction  given  by  Dr.  Rulison,  who  with  the 


44  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

consent  of  all  assumed  command,  was:  "Look  to  your 
arms!"  and  all  obeyed.  Then  he  dispatched  a  committee  to 
the  opposite  camp,  inquiring  "  why  this  warlike  demonstration 
and  wherefore  have  you  come  out  with  music  and  banners 
and  bearing  arms?" 

The  answer  came,  quick,  sharp  and  imperative:  "  We 
have  come  to  clear  this  territory  of  abolitionists,  and  will  give 
you  until  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning  to  take  down  your 
tents  and  depart  in  peace.  After  that  hour,  any  man  who 
remains  takes  his  life  in  his  own  hands.  We  are  armed  and 
we  are  determined.  Your  blood  be  upon  your  own  heads  if 
you  heed  not  this  warning." 

"  No  reply  to  that  message  is  needed  until  to-morrow 
morning  at  ten  o'clock,"  said  the  Doctor  coolly,  "yet  I  warn 
you  all  to  sleep  lightly,  they  are  not  to  be  trusted."  Sen. 
tinels  were  appointed  for  the  different  watches  of  the  night, 
and  then  they  retired  to  await  the  events  of  the  coming 
morning. 

There  was  no  need  of  the  injunction  to  sleep  lightly, 
fatigue  was  forgotten,  by  some  in  fear  and  by  othc>rs  in 
eagerness  for  the  conflict.  The  latter  were  anxious  to  o-o 

o 

over  and  attack  the  enemy  in  the  midst  of  their  revelry, 
which  continued  long  into  the  night,  prophesying  a  complete 
route.  But  wiser  counsels  prevailed. 

"We  may  defend  ourselves,  if  attacked,  but  we  are  n»t 
here  to  commit  aggression,"  said  Dr.  Rulison;  and  to  this  doc 
trine  he  adhered  firmly  through  all  the  events  which  fol 
lowed. 

At  length  the  weary  night  was  over.  The  morning  sun 
shone  down  upon  the  white  tents  of  the  free  state  men  still 
resting  in  the  valley.  But  their  inmates  were  astir — a  hur 
ried  breakfast  and  they  gathered  in  front  of  the  large  office 
tent,  and  all  who  were  armed  began  to  go  through  the  evo 
lutions  of  a  military  drill.  Silent,  yet  firm;  undemonstra- 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  45 

tive,    yet    resolute;    they    moved    as    calmly    as    though    the 
occasion  was  but  a  New  England  training-day. 

An  hour  later,  and  across  the  ravine  all  was  commotion 
and  excitement,  tumult  and  disorder,  amazement  and  sur 
prise  at  the  appearance  of  resistance  where  they  had  antici 
pated  a  Jerri  fied  slinking  away.  Accustomed  to  associate 
silence  with  fear,  and  calmness  with  despair,  they  were 
bewildered  with  the  new  psychic  problem  which  presented 
itself. 

All  at  once  a  tremendous  shriek  rent  the  air,  again  and 
again.  Then  an  answering  yell  from  the  east,  and  look 
ing  in  that  direction,  the  free  state  men  saw  approaching, 
another  body  of  men  similarly  armed  and  caparisoned  with 
the  first.  "  Were  they  to  be  attacked  from  two  sides  at 
once?"  was  the  question  in  every  mind.  Perhaps  we  had 
better  go  back  and  wait  until  the  thing  is  settled,"  piped  some 
fainting  soul,  which  suggestion  was  received  with  a  most 
contemptuous  "Bah!"  But  no;  they  pass  on  to  the  north 
and  join  their  friends,  who  receive  them  with  many  demon 
strations  of  joy. 

The  new-comers  brought  a  fresh  supply  of  bottled  inspi 
ration,  and  this  imbibed,  the  sinkhig  courage  of  the  party 
rose,  and  they  too,  inarched  and  countermarched,  exultant  in 
the  consciousness  of  superior  numbers,  and  at  ten  o'clock 
were  drawn  up  in  line  to  witness  the  inglorious  departure  of 
freedom  from  the  territory.  But  the  tents  still  stood  defi 
antly,  and  the  drill  went  calmly  on. 

A  half  hour  passed,  and  then  a  consultation  was  held 
and  a  messenger  dispatched. 

It  was  Zeke  Fagin,  and  swelling  with  gratified  conceit  at 
the  honor  thus  conferred  upon  him,  his  already  exaggerated 
estimate  of  himself,  elevated  beyond  the  balancing  power  of 
his  uncultivated  judgment,  he  galloped  across  the  intervening 
distance  in  advance  of  the  four  associates  deputed  to  attend 


46  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

him,  and  halted  in  front  of  the  large  tent,  directing  them  as 
they  came  up,  with  a  lordly  gesture,  to  form  a  line  in  his  rear. 

No  attention  was  paid  to  the  imposing  array.  The 
armed  men  went  on  with  their  drill,  not  even  so  much  as 
turning  a  head  to  look  at  them.  A  lounger  near  the  door  of 
the  tent  deliberately  took  out  his  pocket-knife  and  began  to 
whittle.  This  reception  somewhnt  disconcerted  Zeke,  who, 
big  with  his  message,  had  expected  to  meet  with  obsequious 
attention.  At  length  he  called  out. 

"  I  say,  Whittler,  wher's  your  Cap'n?" 

The  man  addressed  looked  up  with  an  indifferent  air  and 
asked  in  an  assumed  nasal  tone,  "  Be  you  desirin'  to  speak  to 
him?" 

"Yes,  dog-gon  ye!  I've  a  message  for  him  from  Gen. 
Watkins,  commander  in  chief  of  the  '  Missouri  Rangers,'  " 
and  Zeke  drew  himself  up  pompously,  and  sat  his  horse  as 
firmly  as  though  the  concentrated  dignity  of  the  whole  slave 
power  was  represented  in  his  burly  person. 

No  visible  effect  was  produced  on  the  whittler,  however, 
by  this  assumption  of  consequence.  The  easy  motion  of  his 
pocket-knife  was  undisturbed,  his  eye  blankly  unconscious  or 
any  unusual  significance  in  the  name  of  Watkins,  even  with 
the  prefix,  General,  and  his  voice  was  without  a  tremor  as  he 
replied; 

"  Wai,  I  guess  he's  in  this  'ere  tent,  least  wise  that's  where 
he  generally  keeps  himself,  when  he  aint  somewhere  else." 

"  Tell  him  to  come  out  here,  dog-gon  ye!  an' keep  yer 
guessin'  for  them  as  likes  it.  Be  quick  now!  Say  a  messen 
ger  from  Gen.  Dave  Watkins,  wishes  to  see  him  immedi 
ately^  this  with  emphasis  and  renewed  pomposity. 

The  whittler  disappeared  within  the  tent  for  a  moment, 
and  then  returned  with  the  reply;  "The  Dr.  will  be  happy 
to  receive  a  messenger  from  Gen.  Watkins.  Will  he  please 
dismount  and  enter." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  47 

Zeke's  indignation,  which  had  been  gradually  rising,  now 
reached  the  boiling  point,  and  bubbled  over. 

"What!  git  off  and  wait  on  a  dog-goned  abolitionist! 
No!  I'll  bed—  ef  I  do!  I'll  see  him  in  h—1,  first!  Tell  him 
that  I  am  a  messenger  from  BRIGADIER-GENERAL,  David 
Watkins,  and  I  want  to  see  the  Cap'n  of  this  hyer  dog- 
goned,  biled-shirted,  abolition  crowd,  out  hyer!"  with  cumu 
lative  emphasis,  reaching  a  climax  on  the  last  two  words. 

The  message  was  carried,  and  the  reply  delivered  with 
exasperating  indifference, by  Whittler,  as  follows: 

"  The  Dr.  is  very  much  engaged  at  present,  and  if  you  do 
not  wish  to  dismount  you  may  send  the  message  through 
myself." 

Zeke  was  unable  to  contain  himself  at  this.  He  reared 
his  horse  upright,  advanced  toward  the  tent  as  if  he  would 
like  to  trample  in  the  dust  the  unoffending  canvas  with  all 
that  it  contained,  then  halted  suddenly,  and  ejaculated  sardon 
ically  ; 

"By  the  great  horned,  flat-footed  d — 1!  I  'low  he  thinks 
he's  the  'Pope  o'  Rome!'  but  I'll  be  dog-goned  if  I'm  goin' 
to  kiss  his  big  toe!"  and  with  this  he  wheeled  about  and  car 
ried  his  insulted  dignity  back  to  the  more  congenial  atmos 
phere  of  his  own  camp,  leaving  his  retainers  to  follow  at 
their  leisure. 

Zeke's  account  of  his  mission  was  received  with  a  yell, 
whether  consoling  or  excruciating  to  his  feelings,  could  not  be 
determined.  They  only  knew  that  three  embassadors,  of  less 
pretentious  appearance,  and  less  exactions  temper,  approached, 
one  of  whom  dismounted  and  was  conducted  by  Whittler  to 
the  Dr.'s  presence,  where  he  delivered  himself  of  the  fol 
lowing  message: 

"Gen.  Watkins  wishes  the  free  state  men  to  strike  their 
tents  and  take  up  a  line  of  march  for  Nebraska.  An  earnest 
desire  to  prevent  the  effusion  of  blood,  induces  him  to  extend 


4-  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

the  time  \mtil  i  o'clock,  P.  M.  At  that  hour  his  men  are 
coming  o^pr  in  force,  and  all  who  remain  will  be  put  to  the 
bowie  kniflk  or  shot." 

The  Dr.^ened  to  the  message,  then  fixing  his  calm  blue 
eye  upon  the  messenger,  replied  in  a  mild,  though  resolute 
tone: 

"  Tell  Gen.  Watkins  that  we  have  come  here  to  stay,"  and 
then  resumed  his  writing  as  serenely  as  though  he  had  received 
an  invitation  to  dinner  and  accepted  with  pleasure. 

The  discomfited  envoys  retired,  waiting  until  some  distance 
off  before  giving  vent  to  their  anger  in  oaths. 

One  o'clock  came  and  went,  and  yet  the  September  sun 
blazed  down  upon  those  obnoxious  tents  in  undisturbed  pos 
session  of  the  town  site,  and  still  the  squatter  soldiers,  who  for 
the  sake  of  greater  comfort  having  removed  their  coats,  might 
have  been  styled  the  "biled  shirt  brigade",  went  on  with  their 
drill. 

The  enemy  were  now  drawn  up  in  line,  as  if  to  advance  at 
the  word  of  command,  and  a  single  messenger,  Pat  Nelson, 
came  galling  forward  and  without  dismounting  called  out: 
"Halloa  mere  yez!  Yez  kin  have  jist  twinty  minutes  to 
move  your  tints  and  save  yer  scalps,  be  jabers!" 

He  was  greeted  with  a  shout  of  laughter,  so  loud  and  long 
that  it  must  have  reached  accross  the  ravine. 

Consternation  was  now  clearly  perceptible  among  the  in 
vading  hosts.  One  party  led  by  Zeke  Fagin  was  for  advan 
cing  immediately  to  put  their  threats  into  execution,  while 
others,  seeing  in  the  composure  which  pervaded  the  free  state 
camp,  indications  of  some  concealed  force  or  power  on  which 

the   squatters   relied   to   offset    the   difference   in   numbers a 

cannon  perhaps,  or  Sharp's  rifles,  of  whose  destructive  capacity 
they  had  heard  marvelous  stones,  were  in  favor  of  giving  "  a 
little  more  time."  The  leaders  themselves,  having  failed  to 
'succeed  in  their  game  of  "  bluff",  suddenly  awoke  to  a  sense 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  49 

of  the  responsibility  to  be  incurred  by  a  deliberate,unprovoked 
attack  on  unoffending  settlers,  and  agreed  with  the  conser 
vatives,  whereat  Zeke  and  his  followers  swore,  "  they  didn't 
propose  to  make  fools  of  themselves  by  running  with  such  a 
dog-goned  skeery  crowd,"  and  to  the  number  of  sixty 
departed  toward  the  east.  The  remainder  lingered  until 
twilight  and  then  followed  in  his  wake. 

Thus  bloodlessly  ended  the  first  invasion,  and  there  was 
joy  and  peace  and  rest  that  night  in  Warsaw.  But  when 
morning  came  and  a  happy  party  joyously  proceeded  to 
Langtry's  claim,  to  do  the  work  and  enjoy  the  feast  post 
poned  from  yesterday,  alas!  alas!  upon  his  head  and  that 
of  Alden  had  fallen  the  ruthless  vegeance  of  the  retiring  and 
crestfallen  foe.  A  smoking  pile  of  coals  and  ashes  was  all 
that  remained  of  Langtry's  castle  walls,  or  pf  John  Alden's 
pile  of  logs,  and  each  claim  bore  an  upright  pole  decorated 
with  streamers  of  hemp,  to  which  a  card  was  attached 
announcing,  that  Zeke  Fagin,  or  Carr  Withers,  respectively, 
would  dispute  possession  with  any  man  who  attempted  to  take 
up  that  claim. 

Disappointed  and  disheartened  they  returned  to  town,  nor 
did  the  inevitable,  "  I  told  you  so,"  from  those  who  had 
warned  them  against  settling  so  far  away  from  Warsaw,  tend 
to  enliven  their  dejected  spirits. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    "RAISING." DUTCH   JAKE. 

Langtry  and  Alden  were  not  the  only  workers  in  the 
colony.  The  sounds  which  greeted  them  on  reaching  the 
town  site,  "Steady  there  now!"  "A  little  to  the  left!" 
"Heave  away!'*  "Up  with  her!"  "All  right!"  as  each 
integral  part  of  a  gradually  rising  structure,  in  the  shape 
of  a  huge  log  hewn  at  the  ends,  was  lifted  from  the  ground, 
carefully  hoisted  and  deposited  in  its  allotted  position,  by  a 
jolly  company  of  men  in  their  shirt  sleeves,  indicated  as  much, 
while  the  laughter  which  followed  some  awkward  movement 
or  some  sally  of  wit,  as  clearly  proclaimed  their  genuine 
enjoyment  of  their  first  experience  in  log  cabin  raising. 

"There  Alden,"  said  Langtry,  "that's  the  place  for  us, 
nothing  like  hard  work  to  cure  the  sting  of  disappointment." 

"  All  right,"  John  responded,  and  consequently,  after 
thanking  their  friends, as  they  alighted  from  the  wagon,  not 
only  for  intended  assistance  but  for  sympathy  in  their  misfor 
tunes,  and  listening  once  more  to  the  well  meant  but  irritat 
ing  injunction ; 

"  Begin  nearer  home  next  time,  and  when  you  are  ready 
again  we  will  gladly  come  und  help  you,"  they  joined  the 
merry  party. 

The  building  thus  undergoing  the  process  of  architectural 
development,  and  at  the  same  time  rising  into  historic  emin 
ence  as  the  first  house  on  the  town  site,  was  the  property  of 
Jacob  Schmidt,  a  rotund  jolly  little  Dutchman,  who  had 
hitherto  served  as  chief  in  the  culinary  department,  driving  a 

5° 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  51 

thriving  business  in  bread  and  pies,  the  latter  a  luxury  which 
a  true  Yankee  can  ne'er  forego  when  attainable,  baking  the 
same  in  a  stone  oven  of  his  own  construction,  and  disposing 
of  them  at  a  good  price,  being  patronized  by  the  whole  com 
munity. 

And  now,  inspired  by  that  wholesome  discontent  which 
reaches  forth  after  higher  and  better  things,  Jake  coveted 
the  distinction  of  Hotel-proprietor.  What  human  heart  hath 
not  its  pet  ambition?  and  what  heights  of  eminence  may 
not  be  attained  if  steadily  pursued  in  the  line  of  the  least 
resistance  ?  Conscious  of  the  true  bent  of  his  genius,  Jake  had 
confined  his  exertions  strictly  to  catering  for  the  appetites  of 
his  patrons,  thus  securing  for  himself  their  good  will  and 
verifying  the  old  proverb  "the  way  to  a  man's  heart  is 
through  his  stomach,"  and  what  was  of  more' value  to  Jake, 
coining  at  the  same  time  the  wherewithal  to  pay  more  stal 
wart  workers  to  prepare  the  material  for  his  twin  cabins,  for 
such  the  hotel  as  it  assumed  form  and  shape  proved  to  be; 
twin  cabins  with  a  connecting  link,  one  roof  extending  over 
the  ten  feet  of  open  space  between  them. 

They  were  each  sixteen  feet  square,  eight  feet  high  and 
covered  with  a  thatched  roof  made  of  poles  slightly  elevated 
at  their  joining  place  in  the  centre,  forming  a  slope  on  either 
side  and  covered  heavily  with  prairie  grass. 

Though  rough  and  unsightly  in  appearance,  this  formed  a 
water-proof  roof — floor  there  was  none,  that  luxury  Jake  pro 
posed  to  add  when  the  coming  saw-mill  should  make  it  more 
readily  procurable, 

One  of  the  rooms  was  to  be  devoted  exclusively  to  sleep 
ing,  and  consequently  was  furnished  with  two  bedsteads,  made 
of  hickory  poles,  extending  entirely  a  cross  two  sides  of  the 
room.  They  were  designed  to  accommodate,  each,  some  six 
or  seven  sleepers,  but  proved  a  sort  of  omnibus  bed,  capable 
of  indefinite  extension. 


52  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

The  other  cabin,  being  intended  for  the  dining  room,  was 
furnished  with  two  immovable  tables,  each  twelve  feet  in 
length,  with  benches  on  either  side.  A  small  building  near 
the  oven  was  erected  as  a  protection  for  Jake  while  pursuing 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  profession,  and  no  prouder  man  walked 
the  town  site  than  he,  when  the  whole  was  finished  and  a 
large  sign, with  the  words  "  Pioneer  House,  Jacob  Schmidt, 
Proprietor,"  swung  above  the  door.  His  round  rubicund  phiz 
was  radiant  with  complacency,  and  a  broad,contagious  grin  was 
continuously  disseminated  from  his  good  natured,  wide-spread 
mouth,  as  he  waddled  hither  and  thither,  puffing  and  blow 
ing  with  his  efforts  to  wait  on  his  guests,  the  workers,  whom, 
at  the  conclusion  of  their  labors,  he  invited  to  be  seated  around 
the  new  tables  and  partake  of  a  bountiful  dinner  ot  various 
kinds  of  game  and  bread,  with  potatoes  procured  from  Missouri. 

Hard  work  in  the  open  air  induces  good  appetites,  and  the 
consciousness  of  having  performed  a  friendly  act,  however 
humble  the  recipient,  arouses  agreeable  sensations  conducive 
to  enjoyment.  This  dinner  party  thus  possessed  two  elements 
of  success  lacking  to  many  a  grander  spread — and  the  climax 
was  reached,  when  with  the  dessert  of  pies  and  pudding  made 
from  the  wild  fruits  found  in  the  woods,  Jake  brought  forth 
from  some  mysterious  recess,  a  keg  of  root  beer  of  his  own 
brewing,  prepared  expressly  for  the  occasion,  and  filling  the 
cups  of  his  guests,  desired  that  they  should  drink,  "  Success 
to  the  Pioneer  house." 

"And  its  proprietor,"  sung  out  a  voice  from  the  company. 
The  amendment  was  received  with  cheers  and  the  toast  drank 
standing.  Then  there  was  a  unanimous  call  for  a  speech  from 
Jake;  but  conscious  that  it  was  his  mission  to  fill  mouths, 
rather  than  ears;  to  tickle  the  palate,  rather  than  to  enlighten 
the  understanding,  Jake  had  disappeared,  nor  did  he  return 
until  the  company  were  dispersing  when  he  came  to  say,  "  I 
tank  you,  shentlemens  ferry  mooch!" 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  53 

a  You  must  get  you  a  wife,  now,  Jake,"  suggested  Lang- 
try. 

"  I  vas  dink  of  dot  myself  already,"  was  the  reply. 
"  Sometime  I  send  for  my  Katrina." 

"Ah,  so  it  is!  "Love  rules  the  camp,  the  court,  the 
grove,"  said  Langtry,  as  himself  and  Alden  turned  away 
towards  the  tent,  their  sleeping  place,  for  rest.  The  atmos 
phere  of  good  cheer  which  had  surrounded  them  during  the 
day  had  restored  their  equanimity,  and  they  were  able  to  dis 
cuss  plans  for  the  future  with  renewed  hopefulness,  and  ere 
they  slept  to  devise  a  feasible  scheme  for  retaining  the  claims 
of  their  choice,  and  yet  providing  for  the  possible  contingency 
of  an  attempt  to  dispossess  them. 

A  large  addition  to  the  colony  was  expected  daily,  and 
the  idea  was  to  induce  a  sufficient  number  from  among  them 
to  unite  for  mutual  protection,  and  take  up  the  whole  wooded 
tract  beyond  the  Areposa.  With  the  adoption  of  this  plan, 
Alden  and  Langtry  became  the  progenitors  of  a  long  line  of 
far-famed  Kansas  land  agents;  and  the  morrow  brought  a 
large  number  of  land  seekers,  mostly  from  Iowa  and  Ohio. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

NEW-COMERS LANGTRY's      WIFE ARTHUR      FAIRCHIL 

NEWS    FROM    AMY. 

"  Saw-mill's  come!"  "  Saw-mill's  come!"  was  the  cry  as 
a  long  train  of  white-covered  wagons  halted  on  the  town  site. 

"  It  is  in  the  rear,"  was  replied  to  anxious  inquiries,  and 
Langtry  and  Alden  started  with  the  crowd  who  were  making 
their  way,  eager  to  inspect  the  anxiously  awaited  piece  of 
machinery. 

They  had  gone  but  a  short  distance  when  a  woman's 
voice  called  out  "Edward!"  "Edward!"  Langtry  paused. 
"Edward!"  the  voice  called  again,  nearer,  and  he  turned  to 
find  a  woman's  arms  about  his  neck,  and  to  clasp  warmly  to 
his  bosom,  oblivious  to  everything  but  the  joy  of  her  pres 
ence,  his  wife,  Agnes. 

She  had  come  on  the  train  with  some  of  her  Iowa  friends 
— had  been  well  taken  care  of — and  enjoyed  the  novel  inci 
dents  of  an  otherwise  tedious  journey.  "  It  was  all  so  new 
and  strange  to  me,"  she  said ;  "And  then  every  day  was  bear 
ing  me  nearer  you.  I  could  not  remain  longer  away  from 
you,  Edward.  An  uncontrollable  impulse  bade  me  come, 
but — "  noting  the  shade  that  passed  over  his  face  as  he 
thougiit  of  that  cabin,  to  which  he  should,  by  rights,  have 
taken  her,  "Are  you  not  glad  to  see  me?" 

"Indeed  I  am,  dear,"  and  the  fond  pressure  of  the  arm 
which  still  lingered  around  her  waist,  and  a  look  of  unuttera 
ble  tenderness  from  his  eyes  made  assurance  doubly  sure. 
"But  then,  being  glad  to  see  you  is  one  thing,  and  knowing 

54 


AGNES   LANGTRY. 


5  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

what  to  do  with  you  is  another.     I  fear   I  cannot  make    you 
comfortable." 

"  But  I  did  not  come  to  be  comfortable,  Edward.  I  came 
to  be  a  pioneer  and  to  endure  the  hardships  and  privations  of 
frontier  life.  To  make  me  comfortable  would  destroy  all  the 
romance,"  said  she,  archly  smiling-  into  his  face. 

"A  very  convenient  frame  of  mind  under  present  circum 
stances,"  said  he,  with  a  shrug  of  his  shoulders,  then  reassur 
ingly,  «  I  am  glad  you  have  come,-at  any  rate,  and  shall,  I 
have  no  doubt,  soon  find  some  place  for  you." 

Turning  to  Alden,  he  said,  "Agnes,  this  is  my  friend,  Mr. 
Alden,  and  a  very  good  friend,  too."  She  turned  to  John 
one  of  the  most  winning  faces  he  had  ever  beheld.  It  was 
not  strictly  beautiful,  the  nose  was  rather  long  and  slightly 
Roman,  the  forehead  low  and  broad,  the  chin  a  little  pointed, 
but  the  eyes  were  large  and  blue  and  clear  as  the  summer 
sky.  They  were  eyes  through  which  one  might  look  into 
the  depths  of  the  earnest  soul  beneath,  and  yet  thev  could 
sparkle  with  mischief,  for  the  tell-tale  lines  about  the  express 
ive  mouth,  suggested  a  wealth  of  concealed  smiles.  There 
was  tenderness,  and  steadfastness,  and  sympathy  in  every  lin 
eament  of  her  countenance.  Her  hair  was  blonde  with  a 
golden  tint,  and  though  drawn  back  in  waving  lines  and 
twisted  in  a  coil  on  her  neck,  little  stray  fringes  had  crept  out 
and  rippled  and  sparkled  like  sunshine  on  the  white  forehead. 
Her  form  was  tall  and  willowy,  and  her  voice  exceptionally 
sweet  and  musical,  as  she  acknowledged  her  pleasure  at  meet 
ing  any  friend  of  her  husband. 

"  My  tent  is  at  your  service,  Langtry,"  said  John. 

"Oh,  no,  Alden!  We  cannot  thus  dispossess  you,"  said 
he,  deprecatingly. 

"But  you  must.  You  have  no  alternative,  and  as  for  me, 
I  shall  patronize  Jake's  establishment  and  sleep  in  the  'field- 
bed,'  to-night.  I  want  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  some  of 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  57 

these  new-comers,  you  know,  and  proclaim  the  merits  of  the 
<  Walnut  Grove  Colony.'  " 

Necessity  compelled  Edward  Langtry  to  accept  this  kind 
offer,  and  he  soon  after  carried  to  the  tent  one  of  Agnes' 
trunks.  The  others,  with  several  boxes  of  freight  were  left  in 
the  wagon,  in  which  they  had  been  transported,  for  the  present. 

When  Alden  had  seen  them  safely  settled  he  left  them? 
saying: 

"  I  will  order  supper,  for  three  at.  Jake's,  come  down  in  an 
hour." 

He  had  gone  but  a  few  steps  when  he  was  confronted  by 
a  young  man  who  came  straight  towards  him  smiling,  and 
holding  out  his  hand,  saying  as  he  did  so: 

"You  are  John  Alden  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  are  you  not?" 

"  The  same  sir." 

"And  do  you  not  recognize  me?" 

"  Indeed  I  do  not." 

"  Well,  I  do  not  wonder  at  it,  for  when  ytm  last  saw  me 
I  was  a  schoolboy.  I  did  not  wear  this  then,"  indicating  his 
mustache,  and  after  a  moments  pause:  "  I  sometimes  escorted 
a  little  lady,  Miss  Grace  Alden,  to  and  from  school  on  my 
sled.  Do  you  know  me  now?" 

A  smile  passed  over  John  Alden's  face. 

"  You  must  be  Arthur  Fairchild,  though  the  resemblance 
is  very  slight  indeed  to  the  little  Arthur  whom  I  remember." 

"  Time  changes  us  all,  I  should  never  have  recognized 
you,  had  you  not  been  pointed  out  to  me.  I  bring  a  letter 
from  your  wife,"  and  he  handed  John  a  bulky  envelope  which 
the  latter  took  eagerly.  "  And  I  also  bear  many  messages 
from  your  old  time  friends  which  I  will  repeat  to  you  at  your 
leisure,"  and  then  with  a  thoughtfulness  indicative  of  good 
breeding,  "  I  will  leave  you  now  and  join  you  again  when 
you  have  read  your  letter,"  he  was  turning  away  but  Alden 
detained  him  with: 


5  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  No,  I  must  walk  down  to  the  hotel  and  order  supper  for 
some  friends  who  are  occupying  my  tent.  Come  with  me." 

"The  hotel,  where  is  it?" 

"Just  before  you." 

"What!  that  mass  of  hay  and  logs?  I  thought  it  a  poor 
apology  for  a  stable;  ha,  ha,  ha,  this  is  pioneering  truly." 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  dismayed  at  the  prospect  already." 

"Not  a  bit  of  it!  everything  must  have  a  beginning  I 
suppose.  I  think  I  prefer  the  tents  however,  or  the  white 
covered  wagons,  they  are  more  picturesque." 

"  To  be  sure,  but  then  you  know,  beauty  is  not  what  we 
are  going  in  for  just  at  present,  we  worship  the  necessary." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  Jake's  establishment,  and 
found  him  in  his  element,  so  many  were  the  orders  for  supper 
he  had  received  from  the  young  men  among  the  new  comers. 
Most  of  the  families  came  prepared  to  do  their  own  cooking 
and  were  now  encamped,  gipsy-like,  on  the  town  site. 

"  If  business  continues  thus  brisk,"  said  Alden  to  Jake, 
"you  will  have  to  send  for  Katrina  immediately." 

"  I  vos  shust  dinks  of  dot  myself  already,"  was  Jake's  reply. 

Bidding  Arthur  meet  him  in  an  hour,  John  sought  a 
place  where  he  could  read  his  letter  undisturbed.  He  walked 
some  distance  before  he  found. himself  alone,  and  then  tremb 
ling  with  emotion  broke  the  seal,  and  read : 

CLEVELAND,  August,  1854. 
uMv  DEAR  HUSBAND: 

"  It  would  ill  become  me  who  urged  you  so  strongly  to  leave  home  In 
search  of  wealth  to  gratify  my  foolish  longings  and  desires,  to  decline 
now  to  share  your  fortunes,  whatever  they  may  be,  and  whatever  you 
may  wish.  I  would  not  do  so,  even  were  the  sundering  of  old  home  tics 
likely  to  be  a  painful  sacrifice ;  but  the  truth  is,  there  have  been  so  many 
changes  in  the  old  place,  among  the  old  friends,  and  within  myself  during 
the  past  six  years  that  I  can  even  hail  with  joy  a  removal,  particularly 
one  which  unites  again  our  divided  lives.  As  for  privations,  there  are 
none  so  great  as  those  we  have  already  suffered  in  being  separated." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  59 

"Dear,  brave,  loving  Amy,"  John  ejaculated,  "may 
Heaven  spare  us  many  years  in  which  I  can  prove  my  devo 
tion."  Then  he  read  on: 

"  It  will  be  unnecessary  for  you  to  send  money  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  our  journey,  as  I  have  a  sufficient  sum  at  my  disposal,  and  Grace  and 
I  will  come  as  soon  as  you  are  ready  for  us.  ******** 

"  And  now  a  few  words  concerning  the  bearer  of  this  letter.  A  well- 
mannered,  honorable  and  studious  boy,  Arthur  Fairchild  has  naturally 
developed  into  a  high-minded,  intelligent,  and  agreeable  young  man,  the 
pride  of  his  parents  and  friends,  and  the  center  of  high  hopes  and  expecta 
tions,  which  I  sincerely  believe  may  yet  be  realized,  although  he  has 
chosen  for  himself  a  path  widely  deviating  from  the  one  parental  ambi 
tion  had  marked  out  for  him. 

Anxiously  desiring  him  to  continue  the  study  of  law,  upon  which  he 
had  just  entered,  they  received  with  dismay  the  announcement  of  his 
determination  to  '  do  what  one  man  could,  to  make  Kansas  a  free  State.' 
They  might  have  anticipated  as  much  however,  for  you  know  the  Fair- 
child  family  have  long  been  the  main  stay  and  support  of  the  '  Anti- 
Slaverv  Society,'  in  this  section  of  the  country,  and  from  a  child,  Arthur 
has  listened  to  most  eloquent  appeals  in  behalf  of  the  slave,  and  bitter 
denunciations  of  negro  slavery,  and  furthermore,  for  four  years  he  has 
breathed  the  atmosphere  of  Berlin  College,  where  the  spirit  of  human 
equality,  without  regard  to  sex  or  color,  sits  incarnate,  and  from  whose 
teachings  he  is  still  fresh.  What  wonder  then,  that  the  stirring  appeals 
now  made  to  every  lover  of  liberty,  in  the  name  of  justice  and  humanity, 
to  form  in  line  at  the  point  of  aggression  and  hurl  back  the  advancing 
tide  of  liberty's  foes,  should  arouse  all  the  ardor  and  enthusiasm  of  an 
earnest  impulsive  youth,  and  that  he  should  desire,  like  a  brave  knight  of 
olden  times,  to  buckle  on  the  armor  and  go  forth  to  battle  with  the  giant 
wrong  of  his  day  and  generation.  And  if  the  roguish  brown  eyes  and 
smiling  face  of  a  little  maiden  called  «  Grace  Alden,'  soon  to  be  in  Kan 
sas  Territory,  have  somewhat  influenced  his  decision,  what  matters  it! 
Did  not  each  knight  of  old  have  his  'fair  ladye '  whose  colors  he  wore 
and  at  whose  feet  he  laid  the  trophies  nobly  won." 

A  shadow  fell  upon  the  page.  John  glanced  up,  and  the 
young  crusader  stood  before  him,  in  a  traveling  suit  of  grey? 
with  polished  boots,  and  tall,  silk  hat,  a  flush  on  his  handsome 
face,  and  a  slight  tremor  in  the  tones  of  his  voice  betraying  a 
suspicion  that  something  of  the  relation  to  which  he  aspired 


60  THE   SQUATTER    SOVEkEIGN. 

had  been  disclosed.  Yet  in  reality  Alden  had  scarcely  been 
conscious  of  the  intimation  concerning  the  young  man,which 
his  wife  intended  to  convey.  To  him  Grace  was  still  a 
laughter  loving  little  girl,  and  Amy's  allusion  to  Arthur's  ad 
miration  of  her,  made  less  impression  upon  him  than  his  wife's 
expressions  concerning  the  state  of  feeling  and  the  wide-spread 
determination  on  the  part  of  the  North  to  prevent  the 
establishment  of  slavery  in  Kansas.  Amy  knew  all  then — 
comprehended  the  situation  more  fully  than  did  himself  when 
first  he  invited  her  to  join  him,  and  yet  she  did  not  hesitate, 
nor  shrink  from,  in  fact,  rather  courted  the  change. 

Arthur  had  come  to  announce  that  supper  was  in  readiness, 
and  friends  waiting  in  the  dining-room  of  the  Pioneer  House 
and  the  two  walked  thither  quickly  and  rather  quietly,  Alden 
being  absorbed  in  thought  and  the  young  man  too  respectful 
to  force  conversation  upon  him.  At  table  however,  the  con 
versation  grew  free  and  easy  and  soon  Langtry  related  the 
story  of  the  first  invasion,  and  the  destruction  of  his  property. 
The  youth's  eye  fired  with  indignation,  and  an  expression  of 
deep  anxiety  settled  upon  the  fair  brow  of  Agnes. 

When  Langtry  concluded,  John  stated  their  intention  of 
forming  a  colony,  to  settle  on  the  timber  land  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  Areposa,  and  Arthur  begged  to  be  enlisted  as  the 
first  recruit,  offering  also  to  introduce  them  to  others  from 
Ohio, in  the  morning. 

"Why  not  to-night?"  said  John.  "  Never  put  off  until  to 
morrow  what  can  be  done  to-day."  So  Arthur  and  he  sallied 
forth  to  find  them,  leaving  the  Langtrys  to  their  "  own  sweet 
company." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

OUR  LADY SOUTHERN  COLONIES ELECTION  OF 

WHITFIELD. 

The  hum  of  busy  industry  wakened  in  the  pleasant  valley 
during  those  autumn  days  of  '54,  has  never  ceased,  but  wafted 
on  and  on  to  the  hillsides,  to  the  river  and  beyond,  an  ever 
widening,  ever  deepening  circle  still  resounds,  stimulated  by 
the  constant  stream  of  immigrants  flowing  in  from  every  side, 
with  needs  to  be  provided  for,  and  aspirations  and  expecta 
tions  to  be  fulfilled. 

And  there  was  so  much  to  be  done,  only  strong  arms  and 
willing  hands,  guided  by  earnest,  patient  souls,  could  have  so 
changed  the  face  of  nature  in  so  short  a  time.  There  was 
hewing  of  timber  and  quarrying  and  hauling  of  stone,  there 
was  building  of  limekilns  and  burning  of  lime,  for  the  winter 
was  near,  and  the  rude  cabins  must  havb  chimneys.  And  after 
the  human  beings  were  provided  for, there  must  be  shelter  for 
the  horses  and  cattle,  and  grass  cut  from  the  far-reaching 
unclaimed  meadows, for  their  subsistence. 

Then,  with  an  eye  to  the  future,  the  breaking  plow 
drawn  by  patient  oxen  must  upturn  the  sod,  that  it  may  be  in 
readiness  for  spring  plowing  and  planting. 

Meanwhile  food  must  be  obtained,  and  many  were  the 
teams  and  teamsters  kept  busy  hauling  supplies  in  their  large 
wagons, from  the  Missouri  River.  Groceries,  dry  goods,  and 
all  manufactured  articles  shipped  thither  from  the  East,  and 
vegetables,  flour  and  fruits  obtained  in  Missouri;  for  much  as 
the  inhabitants  of  the  latter  State  collectively  desired  to  oust 

61 


62  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

the  Free  State  men  from  the  Territory,  it  had  not  yet  occurred 
to  them  to  place  an  embargo  on  the  food  supplies,  the  profits 
of  which  came  to  them  individually. 

Likewise,  while  things  material,  food,  shelter,  and  raiment 
required  immediate  and  untiring  effort,  things  political  were 
also  pressing,  and  while  the  pioneers  built  up  a  home,  they 
must  also  develop  a  fitting  political  environment.  Arid  here 
they  were  required  to  manipulate,  not  the  easy,  submissive 
forces  of  nature  alone,  in  her  most  genial  mood,  but  the 
widely  differing  temperaments  and  clashing  interests  of  hu 
man  beings. 

Through  the  representations  of  Arthur  Fairchild,  about 
twenty  of  the  newly  arrived  colonists  went  to  Walnut  Grove 
and  these  were  sufficient  to  form  a  nucleus  round  which  oth 
ers  gathered,  as  the  Free  State  men  increased  in  numbers. 

Claims  were  laid  out  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  each 
settler  a  fair  share  of  timber  and  prairie  lands.  A  written 
compact  was  made  to  maintain  and  defend  each  other's  rights 
against  all  intruders,  and  then  each  set  to  work  with  a  will. 

For  Mrs.  Langtry's  sake,  Alden  and  Arthur  offered  to 
help  Langtry  hew  out  logs  for  his  cabin  before  beginning 
work  on  their  own  claims,  and  their  offer  he  accepted,  pro 
viding  they  would  allow  him  to  work  for  them  in  return. 
And  this  he  did  with  his  keen  sense  of  justice,  persistently, 
day  for  day,  though  they  would  never  have  required  it  of 
him.  To  serve  "  our  lady  "  would  have  been  sufficient  rec 
ompense,  and  so  indeed  thought  all  who  came  to  the  "rais 
ing,"  and  by  whose  united  efforts  a  cabin  was  reared  so  much 
resembling  one  of  Jake  Schmidt's  rooms,  with  its  thatched 
roof  and  ground  floor,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  describe  it. 

And  thither  Agnes  Langtry  came  in  her  gentleness  and 
refinement,  a  gem  not  fitly  set  within  its  rude,  rough  walls; 
but  without,  the  trees,  the  shrubs,  the  clustering  vines  vied 
with  each  other,  in  rich  and  varied  coloring  to  do  her  horn- 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  63 

age,  and  the  whole  forest,  many  hued  and  gorgeous,  rejoiced 
in  her  sweet  presence.  Each  beech,  each  ash,  each  cotton- 
wood  put  on  a  tint  of  scarlet,  or  cherry,  or  orange.  Walnuts 
were  flecked  with  white,  and  poplars  glowed  with  vermillion. 
Graceful  willows  bending  o'er  the  creek  bedecked  themselves 
in  yellow,  and  wild  grapes  in  purple  hung  from  many  a  cling 
ing  vine,  while  the  box  elders  still  retained  their  rich  dark 
green,  a  fitting  background  for  all  this  wealth  of  coloring, 
from  which  the  wind  whirled  the  superabundant  leaves  and 
lightly  placed  them  on  the  ground,  making  a  variegated  car 
pet  for  her  feet. 

For  three  months,  Agnes  was  the  only  woman  in  Walnut 
Grove  Colony,  yet  she  did  not  seem  lonely  nor  conscious  of 
fear,  but  so  absorbed  herself  in  the  little  world  around  her, 
that  she  became  a  part  of  it.  No  incident  was  too  trivial  to 
awaken  her  interest;  the  selection  of  a  site  by  a  settler,  for  his 
cabin ;  the  discovery  of  a  new  kind  of  timber,  or  some  unusu 
ally  large, fine  tree  of  a  well  known  order;  a  different  species 
of  bird;  a  good  day's  hunt;  or  even  the  dispatching  of  a  rat 
tlesnake,  when  related  by  any  of  the  colonists,  all  of  whom 
came  frequently  in  the  evening,  to  Langtry's  house,  was 
listened  to  with  attention.  The  failure 'of  letters  from  home, 
or  the  reception  of  letters  containing  unfavorable  news, 
always  excited  her  sympathy.  In  fact,  she  had  a  word  and 
a  smile  for  each,  to  cheer  him  if  lonely  or  dispirited,  or  to 
rejoice  in  his  gladness;  a  salve  wherewith  to  bind  up  some 
slight  hurt,  a  cup  of  tea,  or  some  little  delicacy  for  the  sick; 
thus  endearing  herself  to  all  by  manifestations  of  that  sweet 
unconscious  cordiality  which  ever  evinces  the  close  kinship  of 
human  kind. 

The  first  boards  obtained  by  any  one  in  Walnut  Grove, 
from  the  saw-mill,  in  Warsaw,  which,  although  running  night 
and  day,  was  unable  to  meet  the  demands,  were  carried  to 
Langtry  by  the  roughest  man  in  the  association,  who  begged 


64  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

him  to  take  them  for  a  floor  in  his  cabin.  "  I  could  not  use 
them  myself,"  said  he,  while  'our  lady'  lived  on  the  ground." 

Langtry  himself,  soon  became  quite  a  favorite.  Superior 
to  most  of  the  men  in  education,  as  in  judgment  and  knowledge 
of  farming,  they  soon  learned  to  consult  him  about  every 
movement,  every  plan,  and  he  always  gave  his  opinion  freely 
when  asked,  yet  never  obtruded  his  advice  unsought,  a  species 
of  self-restraint  which  few  guiding  spirits  are  able  to  exercise. 

It  was  impossible  for  any  one  to  come  within  the  influence 
of  such  ardent  friends  of  freedom  as  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Langtry, 
without  imbibing  somewhat  of  their  hatred  of  oppression  in 
every  form,  and  somewhat  of  zeal  to  combat  it  in  that  phase 
which  presented  itself.  And  they  found  in  Arthur  Fair- 
child  an  able  and  enthusiastic  ally,  untiring  in  his  efforts  to 
strengthen  the  wavering  and  confirm  the  weak  in  their 
determination  to  make  Kansas  a  free  State — and  so  it  hap 
pened  that  the  colony  of  Walnut  Grove  became  no  less  a 
stronghold  of  freedom  than  Warsaw  herself,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  it  was  soon  hedged  in  on  either  side  by  pro- 
slavery  settlements.  The  one  to  the  west,  beyond  the  Are- 
posa,  and  between  Walnut  Grove  and  Warsaw,  was  composed 
principally  of  Missourians,  and  led  by  Sile  Hardiker. 

They  laid  out  a  town  and  called  it  Calhoun,  brought  lum 
ber  from  Missouri  and  erected  a  few  frame  cabins,  the  largest 
of  which,  serving_/or  a  grocery  store,  was  owned  and  occupied 
by  Sile  Hardiker,  who,  dealing  in  liquor  supplies  as  well  as 
groceries,  became  the  presiding  genius  of  the  place.  Alden 
and  he  frequently  met  on  the  way  to  and  from  Warsaw,  and 
the  former  invariably  saluted  Sile  in  a  friendly  manner,  but  a 
gruff  "H-H-how,"  the  Indian  salutation,  was  the  only  reply 
received.  Evidently,  Sile  thought  himself  and  his  companions 
had  been  egregiously  duped  by  a  Yankee  masquerading  in 
Western  costume,  on  that  morning  when  they  had  smoked 
with  him  the  pipe  of  peace. 


66  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

Pat  Malone  too,  his  source  of  life  and  light  Sile's  grocery, 
had  taken  up  a  claim  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek ;  while 
Zeke  Fagin,  comet-like  in  his  eccentric  motions,  and  irregular 
in  his  orbit,  came  and  went  at  unexpected  times  and  seasons, 
with  a  constantly  increasing  tendency  to  overshadow  lesser 
orbs. 

The  colony  to  the  east,  called  Charleston,  was  made  up  of 
families  from  South  Carolina,  who  were  evidently  drawn 
from  the  class  known  there  as  "  poor  white  trash."  They 
were  a  scrawny-looking  set,  and  seemed  to  have  little  energy 
and  capacity,  either  for  work  or  enjoyment,  unless  it  might 
be  called  such  for  men  to  sit  hours  in  uncomfortable  places  and 
ungainly  positions,  leisurely  ruminating  a  wad  of  tobacco,  or 
slowly  puffing  the  smoke  from  a  corn  cob  pipe — for  sharp- 
featured,  unkempt  women,  by  a  fire  in  the  open  air  to  prepare 
the  meal  of  bacon  and  corn-dodgers,  improving  meanwhile 
each  leisure  moment  to  solace  themselves  with  the  kindred  in 
dulgence  of  a  "  dip,"  while  sandy-haired,  half-clad  children, 
whose  young  limbs  had  not  yet  exhausted  their  slight  inher 
ited  tendency  to  active  motion,  frisked  about  in  the  sunshine. 
They  had  been  sent  thither  by  a  South  Carolina  Aid  Society, 
whose  leading  spirit  was  Col.  Delaney,  afterward  a  territorial 
officer  of  high  position,  and  were  led  by  his  son  Roderick, 
who  having  seen  them  safely  to  their  destination  and  well  pro 
vided  with  lumber  and  other  necessaries  for  building  cabins, 
and  provisions  to  supply  them  during  the  winter,  had  returned 
to  the  South  to  organize  another  colony  and  bring  them  out 
in  the  early  spring. 

They  did  not  seem  anxious  to  make  Northern  acquaintances, 
though  now  and  then  a  long,  lanky  fellow  sauntered  up  to 
inquire  : 

"  Air  all  them  lumber  lots  taken?"  and  on  receiving  a  reply 
in  the  affirmative,  lazily  sauntered  off  again.  To  one  who 
seemed  disposed  to  linger,  Alden  ventured  the  information, 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  67 

that  if  he  wanted  wood  to  use  for  fuel,  he  would  give  him  an 
opportunity  of  earning  it,  as  there  was  plenty  of  work  to  be 
done,  to  which  the  Calhounite  replied :  "  No  you  don't!  work 
and  me  don't  git  on  well.  Never  did." 

"  How  then  do  you  earn  a  living  ?"  said  John. 

"  Wai,  pick  it  up  mostly,  when  I'm  to  hum,  and  I  reckon 
them  big-bugs  as  brung  us  out  hyer  to  this  God-forsaken 
country,  won't  let  us  starve." 

"  But  why  should  they  support  you  when  you  won't 
work?" 

4  Look  here  now  stranger,"  said  he,  squaring  himself  up 
as  well  as  his  loose  joints  would  permit,  and  looking  John  for 
a  moment  full  in  the  face,  "  I  reckon  you're  a  durned  inquisitive 
Yank,  an  I'll  be  dog-goned  ef  it's  any  o'  your  business  who 
feeds  me,  so  long  as  I  don't  browse  'round  in  your  pertater 
patch." 

"  Well  no,  I  guess  not,  unless  you  swing  your  ax  in  my 
wood-pile." 

He  laughed.  "  You  needn't  be  skeered  on  my  account, 
stranger.  I  don't  kalkilate  gittin  a  leetle  to  north  is  goin  fur  to 
change  the  color  of  my  hide,  an  ef  them  fellars  want  my  vote 
when  this  ere  question  o'  theirn  comes  up,  they'll  have  fer  to 
keep  me  an'  my  family  in  perwisions  and  licker,  fire-wood 
thrown  in,  dern  em !  What  right  hev  they  to  all  the  land  and 
all  the  niggers  any  way?"  and  this  born  socialist  took  himself 
off.  All  the  same,  the  loose  wood  disappeared,  and  with  it 
any  other  small  articles  carelessly  left  about  or  unwatched. 

At  the  November  election  for  delegate  to  Congress,  the 
men  of  this  colony  came  up  manfully  and  paid  for  their 
"keep,"  by  voting  for  Whitfield,  the  pro-slavery  candidate, 
and  aided  by  seventeen  hundred  Missourians,  who  encamped 
for  the  day  on  Kansas  soil,  carried  the  election  in  his  favor. 
This  was  the  real  opening  of  the  Southern  programme — the 
first  demonstration  that  other  than  fair  means  were  to  be  used 


68  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

at   the    polls,    in   settling    the    great   question    relegated    by 
Congress  to  the  Territory. 

This  duty  done,  the  Charleston  colonists  turned  their 
attention  toward  the  construction  of  winter  quarters,  digging 
cellars  and  roofing  them  with  boards,  or  else  excavating  a 
space  in  the  side  of  a  ravine  or  hill,  and  closing  up  the  front, 
with  the  exception  of  a  small  space  which  served  for  ingress 
and  egress.  These  dwellings,  called  « dug-outs,"  in  which 
families  of  six  or  seven  persons  contrived  to  exist,  were  very 
common  among  pioneers  from  the  South  and  Southwest. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
ARTHUR'S  LOVE — AGNES'  ACQUISITION — THE  FREE   NEGRO. 

At  the  time  of  the  foundation  of  the  Walnut  Grove 
Colony,  John  Alden  had  hoped  to  be  able  to  announce  to  his 
wife  that  her  new  home  was  in  readiness  for  her  by  the  ex 
piration  of  six  weeks  at  farthest,  but  that  time  had  lengthened 
day  by  day  into  two  months,  and  still  he  was  not  prepared  to 
bid  her  come.  When  they  first  began  to  work  in  the  woods, 
John  had  observed  that  Arthur  made  little  headway  in 
chopping,  and  that  his  hands,  unaccustomed  to  rough  usage, 
were  swollen  and  bleeding,  so  he  suggested  that  Langtry  and 
himself  do  the  cutting,  and  Arthur  drive  the  team,  hauling  the 
logs  to  the  mill.  This  proved  a  satisfactory  arrangement,  and 
a  large  amount  was  delivered  at  the  mill,  much  of  which  was 
contracted  for  by  other  parties,  and  for  which  they  received  a 
good  price.  But  they  were  obliged  to  wait  their  turn  to  have 
some  sawed  for  the  floors,  and  sheathing  for  the  roof  of  the 
cabin,  and  it  did  not  come  until  after  the  walls  had  been  raised 
and  the  clumsy  chimney  built  of  stone,  which  they  had  quar 
ried  and  hauled  from  a  neighboring  bluff.  Not  wishing  to 
wait  for  lime,  they  had  used  a  mortar  made  of  clay  and  mud; 
and  John  proposed  to  use  the  same  for  chinking,  while  Arthur 
drove  to  Lauderdale  for  shingles  and  window-sash. 

During  two  months'  daily  association  with  the  lad,  John 
Alden  had  conceived  somewhat  of  his  wife's  partiality  for 
him,  and  had  learned  for  himself  that  a  certain  magnet,  still 
in  Ohio,  had  acted  powerfully  in  deflecting  Arthur's  life-course 
from  the  one  previously  marked  out  for  him. 

69 


7O  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

Consciously,  or  unconsciously,  he  had  been  influenced  in 
his  determination  to  emigrate  to  Kansas,  by  the  fact  that  there 
hereafter  would  be  found  Grace  Alden.  Perhaps  the  thought 
too  had  its  weight,  that,  so  far  away  from  other  competitors, 
his  own  claims  might  be  more  readily  recognized,  and  this 
long  delay  chafed  him  not  a  little.  There  was  some  consola 
tion  however  in  extolling  the  charms  of  his  idol,  and  John  en 
couraged  him  to  tell  of  her  ways,  her  occupations,  her  com 
panions,  her  studies,  her  musical  acquirements,  her  beauty  and 
her  goodness.  It  was  a  theme  of  which  the  lover  never 
tired,  and  what  more  sympathetic  listener  could  a  devoted  ad 
mirer  ask  than  a  fond  father  who  had  long  been  separated 
from  his  child?  They  worshiped  at  the  same  shrine,  and 
mutual  homage  forged  a  link  to  bind  them  together.  But 
what  of  Grace,  John  wondered;  did  she  reciprocrate  all  this 
tender  adoration?  He  had  received  a  number  of  affectionate 
little  notes  from  her,  in  which  she  mentioned  Arthur  with 
sisterly  concern.  "  A  bad  omen,"  John  thought,  "  a  maiden's 
love  is  shy."  Occasionally,  too,  Arthur  received  letters  in 
the  same  handwriting,  but  John  observed  that  they  never 
seemed  to  give  him  that  perfect  happiness,  that  freedom  from 
anxiety  which  a  written  expression  or  acknowledgement  of 
the  reciprocation  of  affection  should  bring  to  a  lover. 

Not  until  December  were  the  boards  obtained  for  floor 
and  roof,  and  then  adjusted.  Soon  after,  Arthur  departed  for 
Lauderdale.  John  Alden  worked  away  industriously  during 
his  absence,  at  chinking  or  filling  the  crevices  between  the 
logs  with  a  plaster  made  of  mud,  his  heart  keeping  time  with 
his  hands,  for  while  the  latter  diligently  essayed  the  impossible 
task  of  smoothing  the  rough  surface,  the  first  was  full  of 
pleasing  memories  and  bright  anticipations. 

One  evening  when  he  went  as  usual  to  visit  the  Langtrys, 
Agnes  came  forward  to  meet  him,  her  face  radiant  with  hap 
piness,  as  she  exclaimed  eagerly : 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  y.I 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you  Mr.  Alden.  I  could  scarcely  wait 
till  evening  for  your  coming,  but  tried  to  induce  Edward  to  go 
over  and  bring  you — 

"Ah  indeed!  has  anything  unusual  happened?" 

"  Oh  yes!  we  have  eight  new  members  of  the  colony,  just 
think  of  it>  eight  at  once!  and  likely  to  be  valuable  acquisi 
tions,  though  they  are  of  Southern  birth." 

"Is  that  so,  and  when  did  they  arrive?" 

"  Only  this  morning.  Edward  purchased  them  of  an 
Arkansas  man,  whose  wife  was  homesick  and  wanted  to  go 
back  to  her  friends." 

"Purchased  them!  purchased  additions  to  our  colony!  Of 
course  he  means  to  set  them  free." 

"  Indeed  he  will  not ;  we  mean  to  keep  them  and  profit 
largely  by  their  possession,"  said  she  laughingly ;  "  but  before 
I  conduct  you  to  their  quarters  allow  me  to  treat  you  to  a 
pleasant  beverage."  She  poured  from  a  pitcher  as  she  spoke, 
a  glass  of  fresh  milk,  a  sweet,  delicious  draught  such  as  had 
not  passed  her  visitor's  lips  in  years.  And  then  it  dawned 
upon  him  what  manner  of  colonists,  at  least  one  of  the  eight 
purchased  ones,  must  be,  and  he  was  somewhat  prepared, 
when,  calling  out  gaily:  "Come  on,1"  she  led  him  to  a  hay 
stack,  behind  which,  calmly  ruminating,  stood  a  black  and 
white  spotted  cow  with  crumpled  horns,  that  received  their 
admiration  with  unconcealed  indifference,  and  helped  herself 
to  a  fresh  cud  of  hay  in  mild-eyed  unconcern. 

"Isn't  she  a  beauty?"  cried  Agnes,  with  almost  childish 
delight,  "  and  her  name  is  Dinah !  Now  who  but  a  Southerner 
would  have  called  a  cow  Dinah?  It  suggests  to  me  a  large 
darkey  woman  with  a  red  bandana  handkerchief  around  her 
head." 

"  Your  cow  is  only  parti-colored,  but  you  might  decorate 
her  horns  with  red  ribbons,  or  why  not  change  her  name  if 
you  don't  like  it?" 


72  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

«  No,  I  won't.  It's  unlucky  to  change  names,  besides  I 
like  it.  Dinah  she  was  named,  and  Dinah  she  shall  be  to  the 
end  of  the  chapter,"  stroking  and  patting  the  cow's  face 
gently.  "  And  now  Mr.  Alden  we  shall  have  all  the  cream 
and  milk  and  butter  we  want.  You  must  provide  yourself 
with  a  little  tin  pail  or  pitcher  and  come  over  every  day  for 
milk,  and  once  a  week  you  must  bring  a  plate  for  butter 
also." 

"  Thank  you,  I  will  certainly  accept  your  generous  offer." 

"But  this  is  not  all;  I  have  other  treasures  to  display," 
and  she  conducted  him  to  a  chicken-coop,  wherein  rested  half 
a  dozen  hens  and  a  crested  chanticleer. 

"  You  are  indeed  rich,  but  1  must  warn  Langtry  to  make 
that  coop  more  secure  or  the  prairie  wolves  will  be  after  those 
chickens,  with  keen  appetites." 

"  We  are  more  afraid  of  two-footed  wolves.  If  they  let 
them  alone  we  can  provide  against  the  others." 

Returning  to  the  house  they  found  Langtry  reading 
newspapers  which  he  had  received  through  a  neighbor  who 
had  been  down  to  Warsaw  to  bring  up  the  mail  for  the  settle 
ment. 

"  I  congratulate  you  on  your  acquisitions,"  remarked  John, 
"we  shall  be  able  to  live  here  in  civilized  style  after  awhile." 
To  which  Langtry  replied: 

"  I  hope  so.  We  are  making  some  progress,  but  I  shall 
be  better  satisfied  when  we  can  have  our  mails  more  regularly. 
This  thing  of  having  to  wait  two  weeks  or  more  for  a  news 
paper  after  it  is  published,  and  perhaps  a  month  for  a 
magazine,  is  tiresome." 

"You  must  practice  what  you  preach,  my  dear,"  said 
Agnes,  "and  submit  with  a  good  grace  to  what  is  an  in 
evitable  necessity." 

Arthur  returned  in  three  days  from  Lauderdale  with  his 
wagon-load  of  shingles  and  sash,  and  a  supply  of  provisions 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  73 

for  the  winter,  bringing  a  quantity  of  apples  and  potatoes  from 
Missouri,  which  were  a  welcome  addition  to  their  bill  of  fare. 
He  brought  also  a  passenger,  a  colored  man  with  free  papers 
in  his  pocket,  whom  he  had  picked  up  on  the  roadside  intend 
ing  merely  to  grve  him  a  lift  by  the  way,  but  thus  encouraged, 
the  poor  fellow  ventured  to  ask  for  work  and  protection, 
telling  a  sad  story  of  persecution  on  account  of  his  color. 

He  had  been  continually  suspected  and  arraigned  as  a 
runaway  slave,  and  in  Lauderdale  came  near  having  his  free 
papers  stolen.,  and  himself  remanded  to  slavery.  Thinking 
perhaps  he  would  be  safer  in  the  interior,  and  having  heard  of 
the  Free  State  colony  on  the  Kaw,  he  had  started  thither  on 
foot.  Arthur's  sympathies  were  fully  roused,  and  the  poor 
man,  overjoyed  with  kind  treatment,  begged  so  hard  to  remain 
in  his  employ,  that  he  had  consented  to  give  him  a  trial. 

The  negro  professed  to  be  a  proficient  at  rail-splitting,  and 
also  said  he  understood  how  to  construct  a  lime-kiln,  which 
Arthur  thought  might  be  a  profitable  investment;  but  on  con 
sideration  concluded  to  let  the  colored  man  first  try  his  hand 
on  the  rails. 

Alden  and  Arthur  not  being  adepts  in  the  art  of  carpentry, 
encountered  considerable  difficulty  in  fitting  the  window- 
frames  in  the  ponderous  logs,  yet  by  patient  though  not  in 
genious  endeavor,  they  achieved  a  rather  unsatisfactory  result. 

In  the  meantime  Arthur's  protege  went  daily  to  his  work, 
and  finding  that  he  accomplished  a  fair  amount,  was  quiet,  and 
did  not  intrude  himself  upon  his  white  protectors,  John  ex 
pressed  approval  of  him;  and  then  Arthur  broached  a  little 
scheme  which  had  no  doubt  been  running  in  his  mind  for 
some  time. 

The  holidays  were  at  hand,  and  one  accustomed  to  the 
merry-makings,  the  social  gatherings,  the  gifts  and  pleasant 
surprises  incident  to  the  season  in  a  large  and  well  to  do  family, 
could  not  but  turn  with  longing  toward  his  home  and  friends. 


74  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"Mr.  Alden,"  said  he,  "do  you  think  it  would  be  quite 
safe  for  Mrs.  Alden  and  Grace  to  travel  alone?" 

"  Oh  no,  I  must  find  company  for  them,  but  there  are 
so  many  families  coming  out  now  from  Ohio,  that  I  think 
there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  securing  them  an  escort,  between 
this  time  and  spring." 

"  I  was  thinking  that  I  should  like  to  go  home  for  the 
holidays.  My  mother  has, written  me  to  come,  and  if  you 
will  hold  my  claim  for  me,  and  keep  my  man  at  work,  I  can 
do  so,  and  then  return  with  the  ladies." 

"  With  all  my  heart,  Arthur.  I'll  do  the  best  I  can  for 
you,  and  really  there  is  very  little  that  can  be  done  until 
toward  spring." 

"  But  it  is  too  bad  to  leave  you  out  here  alone  and  you 
have  not  seen  them  for  so  long.  You  ought  to  go  and  let 
me  stay  to  guard  our  claims.  I'll  do  it  if  you  say  so;  come 
now,  you  get  ready  and  go." 

"  No,  don't  tempt  me.  I've  thoughMt  all  over  and  made 
up  my  mind  that  it  would  not  be  best.  Besides  the  necessity 
of  guarding  my  own  claim,  I  feel  responsible  for  those  of  the 
men  who  have  settled  in  this  neighborhood  on  my  solicitation, 
not  that  I  apprehend  any  trouble  at  present,  but  should  any 
thing  go  wrong  I  ought  to  be  here.  They  depend  upon  me." 

"  Yes,  I  know  Langtry  and  yourself  are  the  pillars  of  this 
edifice  and  it  would  go  to  pieces,  should  you  step  out.  It  was 
rather  presumptuous  in  me  to  think  for  a  moment  that  I  could 
supply  your  place." 

"Not  at  all  Arthur,  but  it  will  be  best  for  you  to  go. 
Your  plan  suits  me  exactly." 

Danger  was  indeed  nearer  than  they  apprehended,  and 
the  event  proved  Arthur  not  lacking  in  courage  or  coolness. 

It  had  been  noised  about  the  settlements  of  Calhoun  and 
Charleston,  and  borne  on  the  wings  of  rumor  to  the  few  pro- 
slavery  men  hanging  about  in  Warsaw,  that  a  "  nigger  was 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  75 

at  work  in  Walnut  Grove,"  and  very  naturally  they  jumped  to 
the  conclusion  that  he  was  a  runaway  slave,  and  according  to 
their  tenets  it  was  the  duty  and  likewise  the  privilege  of  every 
law-abiding  citizen  to  see  that  the  fugitive  was  forthwith  re 
turned  to  his  master. 

Accordingly  they  mounted  in  hot  haste.  When  duty 
leads  in  the  path  of  desire,  it  is  easy  to  obey  her  mandates, 
and  to  the  number  of  at  least  thirty,  they  galloped  across 
the  prairie,  their  excitement  gathering  force  at  every  bound, 
until,  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch,  they  presented 
themselves  in  front  of  Alden's  cabin,  where  Arthur  and  he 
sat  enjoying  pleasant  reminiscences  of  the  old  home,  called 
up  by  the  prospect  of  the  young  man's  approaching  visit.  The 
negro,  a  short  distance  to  the  right,  and  seated  on  a  new 
made  stool,  was  enjoying  a  huge  slice  of  corn-bread,  and  bowl 
of  milk,  the  latter  an  offering  from  Dinah. 

One  glance  at  the  heated  faces,  alive  with  the  expression 
of  malignant  passion,  and  furious  with  hatred  as  they  gazed  on 
the  innocent  black  man,  was  sufficient  to  show  that  something 
was  wrong,  nevertheless  Arthur  tipped  his  hat  to  them  as  the 
two  men  arose  to  their  feet,  and  before  Alden  had  found  voice, 
said  politely: 

"  Good  morning,  gentlemen.  What  can  we  do  for 
you?" 

"  We  have  come  down  here  to  ketch  that  derned  nigger, 
and  send  him  back  to  Missouri  ridin'  on  a  rail,"  called 
out  one,  and  a  chorus  of  voices  chimed  in : 

"  We  want  that  derned  nigger." 

Arthur's  blue  eyes  flashed,  but  he  controlled  himself,  and 
his  voice  was  without  a  tremor  as  he  replied: 

"  I  have  hired  that  man  to  work  for  me,  and  I  acknowledge 
no  man's  right  to  interfere  with  my  actions." 

"  Hear  the  dog-goned  nigger- worshiper,"  sung  out  the 
chorus. 


76  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  Wouldn't  you  like  to  marry  a  nigger?"  shouted  a  voice 
from  the  outside  rank. 

"Bring  'em  both  out  here!"  cried  another,  "and  we'll  tar 
and  feather  'em  and  ride  'em  on  a  rail  together."  There  was 
a  move  forward  at  this,  as  if  they  were  about  to  put  the  threat 
into  execution,  and  the  poor  negro,  trembling  with  fear, 
crouched  down  close  to  the  cabin. 

"  The  man  is  free,"  said  Alden,  "  he  has  his  free  papers  in 
his  pocket,"  attracting  the  attention  of  the  party  to  himself  for 
a  moment.  That  moment  was  sufficient  for  Arthur;  like  a 
flash  he  was  into  the  cabin  and  out  again,  a  revolver  in  his 
hand,  and  another  in  his  belt.  Placing  himself  directly  in 
front  of  the  negro,  his  slight  form  drawn  up  proudly,  his  pistol 
firmly  held,  and  his  eye  meeting  their  scowls  fearlessly,  he 
said  in  a  clear,  defiant  tone: 

"  The  way  to  that  man  is  over  my  dead  body!  Touch  him 
if  you  dare!" 

They  drew  back;  they  were  like  lions  kept  at  bay  by  the 
moral  courage  of  a  clear,  determined  human  eye.  Yet  it  was 
only  for  a  moment,  infuriated  as  they  were,  and  with  such 
overpowering  numbers,  Arthur  must  soon  have  been  dis 
armed  and  the  negro  taken;  but  for  the  forty  Sharpe's  rifles, 
which  now  came  upon  the  scene,  borne  by  as  many  Free 
State  men,  who  had  heard  of  this  proposed  attack  just  in 
time  to  come  to  the  rescue,  and  before  whom  the  raiders 
slunk  away,  muttering: 

"  Wai,  if  the  man  war  free,  they  reckoned  as  how  they 
had  no  call  to  interfere  with  him." 


CHAPTER  X. 
ARTHUR'S  MISSION. — WARSAW  GROWING. — AIR-CASTLES. 

Arthur  hesitated  somewhat  about  going  East  after  this 
occurrence,  especially  as  the  negro  was  in  such  a  nervous  con 
dition  from  extreme  fright,  that  his  services  were  likely  to  be 
of  small  value,  and  avowed  his  determination  to  leave  as  soon 
as  he  could  do  so  with  safety,  but  his  hesitancy  was  soon 
ended  by  the  action  of  the  "  Walnut  Grove  Association,"  at  a 
meeting  held  on  the  day  after  the  attack  on  the  negro. 

It  was  unanimously  resolved  in  this  meeting,  to  send 
Arthur  Fairchild  to  Northern  Ohio  as  a  regularly  accredited 
agent  for  the  colony,  and  he  was  specially  instructed  to  use 
all  honorable  means  to  secure  a  large  immigration  previous  to 
the  30th  of  March,  1855,  that  being  the  day  fixed  upon  by 
the  first  Governor  of  the  Territory,  who  had  arrived  in 
October,  for  the  election  of  the  first  territorial  legislature. 
The  selection  of  this  legislature  was  a  matter  of  grave  impor 
tance  to  the  settlers,  as  the  laws  and  institutions  of  the  future 
State  depended  in  a  great  measure  on  their  course  of  action. 
There  were  many  indications  of  a  large  influx  of  pro-slavery 
men,  as  urgent  appeals  were  being  made  all  through  the 
South  for  men  and  money,  and  organizations,  secret  and 
otherwise  instituted,  to  aid  and  induce  emigration. 

It  was  well  known  that  a  great  many  were  coming  from 
the  North  in  the  spring,  but  very  unlikely,  unless  specially 
urged  that  they  would  reach  the  scene  of  action  in  time  to  be 
at  the  polls. 

Arthur  was  also  instructed  to  represent  clearly  and  distinctly 

77 


78  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

all  the  difficulties  and  dangers  of  the  situation,  and  the  neces 
sity  of  immigrants  coming  forearmed  as  well  as  forewarned. 
The  association  in  return,  was  pledged  to  have  a  certain 
amount  of  work  done  on  his  claim,  and  to  resist  any  and  all 
attempts  to  jump  the  same.  This  agreement  being  formally 
entered  into,  Arthur  was  at  liberty  to  depart,  and  he  must 
needs  hasten,  as  there  still  remained  but  a  week  in  which  to 
make  the  homeward  journey  before  Christmas,  and  this  was 
barely  sufficient,  four  days'  staging  being  necessary  at  that 
time  to  reach  a  railroad. 

Alden  carried  him  down  to  Warsaw  in  his  wagon  from 
which  place  he  intended  to  take  the  stage  for  Lauderdale, 
and  they  could  but  remark  the  development  which  had  taken 
place  in  the  young  city  since  Arthur's  coming. 

The  white-winged  tents  were  folded,  and  in  their  stead 
rose  many  a  cabin  of  logs  or  frame.  One  or  two  stone  build 
ings  were  in  process  of  erection,  and  a  large  frame  structure 
had  replaced  the  office  tent,  serving  as  well  for  political  and 
social  gatherings  during  the  week,  and  a  place  for  holding 
divine  service  on  Sunday. 

There  were  quite  a  number  of  stores  in  which  a  great 
variety  of  goods  were  displayed,  and  several  shops,  where 
skillful-handed  artisans  plied  useful  trades.  The  village 
smithy  stood  upon  the  open  plain.  The  smith  was  there,  the 
forge,  and  merry  children  watched  the  flying  sparks  with 
glee,  the  only  feature  lacking  to  give  the  picture  grace  and 
beauty,  and  the  smith  and  children  shade,  was  the  "spread- 
spreading  chestnut  tree." 

The  "  Pioneer  House,  Jacob  Schmidt,  proprietor,"  had 
expanded  by  frame  additions  on  every  side,  and  the  original 
twin  cabins  developing  an  upward  tendency,  now  boasted  a 
second  story,  and  it  was  here  Arthur  intended  to  spend  the 
night  in  order  to  be  ready  for  the  morning's  stage. 

John  Alden  bade  him  "good-bye,"  and  God  speed  on  his 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  79 

journey,  with  many  hopes  for  a  speedy  and  safe  return,  and 
as  they  stood  hand  in  hand,  a  thought  seemed  struggling  in 
the  younger  mind  for  utterance ;  but  although  John  had  more 
than  a  faint  suspicion  of  its  purport,  he  did  not  propose  to 
assist  in  its  delivery.  At  length,  however,  Arthur  said  with 
evident  effort,  as  one  braces  himself  for  a  leap,  "  Mr.  Alden, 
have  I  your  permission,  that  is — if  I  can  muster  sufficient 
courage — and  circumstances  seem  propitious,  to  ask  Miss 
Grace  to  be  my  wife  ?" 

How  delightful  it  is  when  we  have  made  the  dreaded 
leap  to  find  we  come  down  easily  and  gently,  and  that  it  was 
not  much  of  an  undertaking  after  all.  John  smiled  into  the 
boyish,  earnest  face,  happy  in  the  thought  that  if  his  bird  must 
leave  the  parent  nest,  it  might  be  to  find  so  secure  a  resting 
place  as  the  inmost  soul  of  this  pure-minded,  brave  young 
man,  for  such  their  three  months'  daily  intercourse  had 
proven  him  to  be. 

"  You  have,  my  boy !  and  I  wish  you  success.  If  my  little 
girl  rejects  so  precious  a  jewel  as  your  heart,  it  is  because  she 
does  not  know  its  value." 

"  Thank  you,  my  friend,  for  your  good  opinion.     I  will  try 
always  to  deserve  it.     I  wish  you  were,  going,  too." 

Alden  shook  his  head.  "  That  is  impossible,  in  person; 
but  my  thoughts  and  my  best  wishes  go  with  you." 

"  Good-bye !"  and  with  another  shake  of  the  hand  they 
parted.  Arthur  walked  down  the  irregular,  unpaved  street, 
and  John  drove  slowly  homeward.  His  horses  knew  the 
way  full  well,  and  scarcely  required  guiding.  The  reins  lay 
idly  in  his  hands,  and  his  thoughts,  freed  for  the  time  from 
the  leading  strings  of  the  present,  took  on  their  old-time 
habit  and  went  bounding  into  the  future,  radiant  as  ever  with 
beauty,  and  built  therein  a  castle  for  the  young  folks,  Arthur 
and  Grace.  A  beautiful  home  near  the  placid  waters  of  the 
Kaw,  rising  from  amid  tall  trees,  and  surrounded  by  wide- 


8O  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

spread,  well  cultivated  fields — an  abiding  home  whose  found 
ations  were  laid  deep  in  love  and  truth.  He  saw  himself  and 
Amy  feeble  and  snowy-haired,  yet  made  glad  in  the  decline 
of  life  by  the  respect  and  love  of  their  children's  children, 
whose  gladsome  voices  resounded  in  the  spacious  rooms,  and 
whose  tripping  feet  pressed  the  luxuriant  grassy  lawn.  The 
picture  pleased  his  fancy,  and  then  his  imagination  followed 
the  youth,  and  he  strove  to  realize  what  manner  of  woman 
was  the  baby  girl  whose  wee  fat  hands  had  fondled  his  face, 
whose  glad  footsteps  had  later  hastened  to  his  side,  and  the 
sweet  tones  of  whose  childish  voice  still  lingered  in  his  ear. 
And  in  search  of  her  image  his  swift-winged  thoughts  went 
gliding  backward  through  the  ever-changing  seasons  of 
twenty  years,  until  they  gave  to  him  once  more  the  Amy  he 
had  in  his  own  youth  worshiped  so  ardently,  so  devotedly 
loved,  and  so  proudly  won. 

And  now  he  reflected  with  satisfaction  on  a  letter  penned 
the  night  before,  and  which  Arthur  bore  with  his  own  hand 
to  his  wife.  A  letter  full  of  love  and  longing  for  her  pres 
ence,  and  ending  with  a  detailed  account  of  the  manly  conduct 
of  Arthur  in  defence  of  the  poor  negro.  "  Grace  is  already 
attached  in  a  friendly  way  to  her  old  schoolmate,  and  this 
account  of  his  bravery  and  resolution  will  awaken  an  admi 
ration  which  his  presence  must  surely  enkindle  into  love," 
thought  John. 

But  the  team  halted  at  his  cabin  door.  The  dream  was 
over.  The  castle  vanished.  The  past  sought  with  swift  feet 
its  dim  and  silent  chamber.  The  future  was  dissipated  and 
hung  above  and  beyond,  a  vague,  uncertain  mist. 

The  stern,  uncompromising  present,  with  its  call  for  action, 
alone  confronted  him. 


CHAPTER  XL 

» 

CHRISTMAS PIONEER  CHURCH — THE  ESCAPED  SLAVE. 

Christmas  came  to  the  pioneers,  as  to  the  world  they  had 
left  behind,  a  clear,  beautiful  morning,  the  air  crisp  and  brac 
ing,  but  growing  warmer  as  the  sun  mounted  higher.  With 
a  sigh  for  those  whose  presence  he  would  have  so  much 
enjoyed,  John  Alden  sought  the  new  friends  whose  society 
had  already  become  dear,  founded  as  their  friendship  was,  in 
a  congeniality  of  tastes,  and  forced  into  rapid  growth  by  the 
atmosphere  of  mutual  toils  and  privations  which  encompassed 
them. 

Regularly  church  services  were  held  on  Sunday  morning, 
in  Free  State  Hall,  as  the  large  frame  building  in  Warsaw 
devoted  to  public  uses,  was  called,  but  Alden  and  the  Lang- 
trys  were  not  regular  attendants.  It  was  a  long  drive,  the 
sermons  not  particularly  attractive  to  them,  and  besides,  they 
were  generally  pretty  much  worn  out  with  the  week's  work 
and  only  too  glad  to  make  Sunday  literally  a  day  of  rest^ 
sleeping  a  little  longer  than  usual,  and  then  reading,  writing, 
lounging  about,  or  X'isiting  each  other.  They  had  planned, 
however,  to  be  present  at  the  Christmas  services  in  commemo 
ration  of  the  birth  of  the  Great  Teacher  whose  words  and 
works,  good  seed  sown  in  the  hearts  of  men,  have  brought 
forth  their  harvest  of  rich  fruit  for  more  than  eighteen 
centuries. 

Accordingly  Alden  harnessed  his  horses  and  drove  over 
for  the  Langtrys,  and  found  in  waiting  besides  themselves, 
Messrs.  Harley  and  Bentz,  two  members  of  the  colony  who 

81 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  83 

were  to  spend  the  day  with  them.  Pleasant  greetings  were 
exchanged  with  all,  and  the  usual  remarks  about  the  weather, 
with  more  than  the  usual  emphasis  on  the  adjective  fine. 

"How  very  delightful  it  is!"  said  Agnes,  as  her  husband 
assisted  her  into  the  wagon.  "  Here  am  I,  comfortable  in 
this  light  spring  shawl," — a  blue  one  with  an  oriental  border — 
"and,"  glancing  around,  "not  an  overcoat  in  the  party!  and 
this  on  Christmas.  Why,  at  home,  I  have  no  doubt  they  are 
shivering  in  furs,  and  riding  over  three  feet  of  snow." 

All  agreed  with  her  that  it  was  exceedingly  pleasant, 
except  Langtry,  who,  shrugging  his  shoulders,  said,  "  I  don't 
know,  I'm  sure,  whether  I  like  this  perpetual  spring  or  not. 
I  sometimes  long  for  a  good  stiff  north-easter,  to  brace  me 
up." 

"What  wretched  taste,  my  dear!  For  my  part  I  shall 
never  sigh  for  cold  weather  to  come  and  shut  us  up  in  our 
cabins.  I  could  live  on  forever  in  this  balmy  atmosphere," 
said  Agnes. 

"  But  it  is  so  debilitating.  Life  moves  on  in  such  an  easy 
channel  that  we  shall  grow  degenerate.  We  New  England- 
ers  will  lose  all  our  vigor  and  energy  if  not  continually 
aroused  by  physical  necessities  to  combat  with  the  sterner 
phases  of  nature." 

"  My  most  congenial  habitat!"  then  said  Alden.  "  I  would 
like  to  glide  down  the  stream  of  time  smoothly  and  calmly, 
and  do  not  care  to  combat"  with  nature  or  with  man." 

"  Nor  I,"  said  Agnes. 

"And  only  think,"  said  Harley,  "  in  this  genial  climate, 
where  human  vitality  is  so  largely  economized,  what  a  vast 
store  of  surplus  energy  you  New  Englanders  will  have 
wherewith  to  combat  sin  in  various  forms;  slavery,  for 
instance,  or  intemperance." 

Langtry  had  read  much  and  thought  deeply  on  many  sub 
jects,  and  it  was  only  necessary  to  suggest  a  starting  point, — 


84  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

give  him  the  key  note,  as  it  were,  to  receive  the  benefit  of  his 
accumulation  of  facts  and  inferences.  This  time  he  dis 
coursed  on  the  influence  of  climate  on  character,  the  rest  of 
the  party  putting  in  a  word  or  two  occasionally,  to  ask  a 
question,  or  to  express  dissent,  only  ceasing  when  the  vehicle 
drew  up  at  the  church  door. 

It  was  a  rude  sanctuary,  the  windows  small,  the  walls 
unplastered,  the  rough  board  seats,  the  bare  and  echoing  floor, 
all  so  in  harmony  with  the  surroundings  of  their  daily  lives, 
could  wake  no  depths  of  feeling  in  the  soul,  nor  tune  its  best 
emotions  to  the  grandeur  of  the  theme. 

The  motley  congregation,  too,  made  up  from  all  the  settle 
ments  around,  both  Free  and  Slave  State,  and  comprising 
representatives  of  nearly  every  State  in  the  Union,  was  provo 
cative  rather  of  curious  study  of  the  creature  than  worship  of 
the  Creator. 

But  a  Bible,  richly  gilt,  a  gift  from  an  Eastern  church,  lay 
on  the  rude  box,  which  turned  up  endwise, served  for  a  desk; 
and  when  the  preacher  rose,  and  from  its  pages  read  with  well 
trained  voice,  how  wise  men  came,  a  new  star  guiding  them 
to  the  manger  to  bring  their  offerings  to  the  regal  child, 
while  Earth  and  Heaven  hailed  with  joy  the  Prince  of 
Peace;  and  the  choir  sang  with  sweet  voices,  accompa 
nied  by  the  notes  of  a  seraphine,  the  old  hymn,  "  Coronation," 
they  felt  their  spirits  rising  to  the  higher  plane  of  devotion. 
The  sermon  following  brought  the  hearers  back  to  earth.  It 
seems  to  be  the  peculiar  office  of  common-place  sermons,  to 
chill  the  raptures  which  entrance  the  soul  when  absorbed  by 
the  contemplation  of  majestic  themes.  However,  the  pleas 
ant  greetings  at  the  close  of  the  meeting,  were  sufficient  to 
repay  all  for  their  presence. 

The  programme  of  the  party  for  the  remainder  of  the 
day  was  to  dine  together  at  Langtry's  house— a  sort  of  pic 
nic  dinner  to  which  each  had  contributed  a  share.  Mr.  Bentz, 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  85 

Lang  try's  nearest  neighbor  to  the  south,  an  unmarried  man, 
contributed  the  oysters,  procured  at  an  exorbitant  price  from 
an  enterprising  dealer  in  Warsaw,  who  had  laid  in  a  supply 
of  extras  for  the  holiday  season.  Harley-whose  claim  was 
next  beyond  that  of  Bentz,  was  an  Illinoisan,  and,  like 
Alden,  expecting  his  family  to  join  him  in  the  spring — had 
been  lucky  enough  to  shoot  a  wild  turkey.  The  apples 
for  pies  and  sauce,  and  the  potatoes,  were  John's  contribution ; 
while  the  host  and  hostess  made  up  the  melange  with  bread, 
butter,  and  other  necessary  articles.  Nor  did  the  guests  allow 
Mrs.  Langtry  to  perform  all  the  drudgery  incident  to  the  occa 
sion.  Gallantry  forbid !  Harley  had  dressed  the  turkey  before 
bringing  it,  and  of  course  only  the  fair  hands  of  Agnes  were 
considered  eligible  to  the  privilege  of  stuffing,  but  each  con 
tended  for  the  honor  of  turning  the  spit  before  the  kitchen 
fire,  obsequiously  playing  at  "  fetch  and  carry,"  as  faithfully 
though  more  awkwardly,  than  good-natured,  well-trained 
Newfoundland  dogs. 

There  were  plenty  of  newspapers  and  books  to  fill  up  the 
intervals  of  attendance,  and  there  was  not  lacking  many  a 
jest  and  many  a  witty  repartee,  to  while  away  the  time,  until, 
at  last,  when  Agnes  had  spread  the  s'nowy  cloth  and  placed 
thereon  the  napkins,  the  china,  and  a  few  pieces  of  silver,  with 
the  shining  knives  whose  unstained  surface  denoted  a  woman's 
care,  their  Christmas  dinner  was  announced  in  readiness. 

The  soup-tureen  with  appetizing  contents  was  brought  on, 
and  a  merry  company  with  good  appetites  sat  down  to  the 
first  course,  which  was  soon  disposed  of.  Then  came  the 
second — a  juicy,  tender,  and  delicious  wild  turkey,  literally 
done  to  a  turn,  fragrant  with  its  dressing  of  sage  and  sum 
mer  savory,  which  condiments,  with  the  accompanying  jelly, 
must  have  been  brought  forth  from  Mrs.  Langtry's  secret 
store,  and  these,  flanked  by  mealy  potatoes,  and  tart  apple 
sauce,  so  demoralized  the  attacking  party  that  they  were 


86  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

obliged  to  call  a  halt  before  laying  siege  to  the  third,  which 
consisted  of  apple  pie  and  a  regular  old-fashioned  New  Eng 
land  Christmas  pudding.  With  the  dessert  came  coffee — and 
such  coffee — clear,  strong  and  aromatic,  rich  with  thick,  deli 
cious  cream,  fit  complement  for  such  a  feast,  and  an  aid  to 
digestion  with  which  they  could  not  very  well  have  dispensed. 

It  was  growing  dark,  yet  the  company  had  not  risen  from 
the  table,  nor  lighted  a  lamp,  when  there  came  an  unexpected, 
uninvited  guest.  An  interval  of  silence  permitted  his  ap 
proaching  footsteps  to  be  heard,  and  then  there  framed  itself 
in  the  doorway  the  form  of  a  forlorn  looking  negro,  in  a  bat 
tered  old  hat,  a  tattered  shirt  whose  remnants  scarcely  con 
cealed  the  scars  on  his  broad  back,  and  a  pair  of  old  thin  pants 
covering  his  shivering  limbs,  while  his  feet  were  bare.  A 
tawny  face  with  beseeching,  wide-open  eyes,  and  a  voracious, 
hungry  look,  conveyed  without  a  word  the  story  of  his  needs, 
and  Agnes  involuntarily  arose  and  carried  him  a  plate  heaped 
full  of  food,  and  having  seated  himself  in  the  doorway,  he 
began  to  eat.  Mrs.  Langtry  filled  and  re-filled  his  plate, 
until  at  last,  when  he  had  drank  the  third  cup  of  coffee  he 
seemed  satisfied,  his  eyes  lost  the  glare  of  a  hungry  animal, 
and  something  like  a  smile  crept  over  his  face,  as  he  ex 
claimed  :  "  May  de  good  Lawd  bress  you,  Missus,  for  your 
kindness  to  ole  Mose!" 

Agnes  had  not  returned  to  the  table  when  she  had  once 
moved  away,  but  had  placed  her  stool  near  the  foot  of  the  bed 
on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  door,  where  she  now  sat  watch 
ing  him  with  a  look  of  interest  and  pity,  and  the  others  had 
all  in  the  meantime  changed  their  positions.  Langtry,  who 
was  walking  up  and  down  the  short,  open  space  in  the  room, 
now  paused  in  front  of  the  negro,  to  ask  from  whence  he 
came,  and  whither  he  was  going. 

"Am  you  from  de  Norf,  Massa?"  was  the  cautious  reply. 

"  Yes,  we  are  all  from  the  North,  all  Free  State  people." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  y 

ft  Den  bress  dc  Lawd,  Massa,  I  done  tole  you  all  'bout  it," 
but,  glancing    suspiciously  into    the    darkening    night,    "  Ole 
Massa  might  done  come  afore  I  get  frew !" 
"Ah !  you  are  an  escaped  slave,  then  ?" 
"Jess  so !     Jess  so,  Massa !" 

Taking  a  turn  or  two  of  the  room  a  little  more  rapidly 
than  before,  and  again  pausing  near  him,  Langtry  said: 

"  You  are  shivering  with  cold  in  your  bare  feet  and  thin 
clothes.  Come  in;  come  to  the  fire.  Here,  take  this  seat;" 
placing  him  a  stool  in  a  warm  corner.  "  Thaw  out  a  little, 
and  then  begin  your  story." 

The  negro  obeyed,  and  our  host  seated  himself  in  the 
vacated  place  in  the  doorway,  a  certain  watchfulness  apparent 
in  his  demeanor,  while  poor  Mose,  thus  encouraged,  proceeded 
to  relate  his  simple  tale : 

"I  hain't  no  'count  now,  Massa,  but  1  done  hoe   my  row 
wif  de  bes'  ob  dem  in  ole  Varginny." 
"You  came  from  Virginia  then?" 

«  Dat's  jess  whar  I  war  raised,  Massa,  me  an'  my  wife 
Cinthy  an'  de  chillun,  wot  I  nebber  see  no  more  in  dis  worl' 
I  reckon.  Nebber!  nebber!"  and  he  leaned  his  head  upon  his 
hands,  swaying  his  body  to  and  fro,  and  moaning  piteously. 

"  You  care  for  them  so  much,  and  yet  leave  them  ?"  said 
Agnes. 

The  man's  hands  dropped  from  his  face. 
"  Car  for  'em?  Car  for  'em !  Fore  God,  Missus,  ole  Mose 
'ud  go  fru  fire  an  brimstone  fur  dem  little  chillun.  Ah,  you 
dunno  nufrm  'bout  slavery,  nuffin!  You  tink  I  leab  dar  ob 
my  own  cord  ?  leab  Cinthy  an'  dem  young  uns,  an'  de  cabin,  an' 
de  chickens,  an'  de  pig,  an  ole  Massa  an'  Missus?  No!  no! 
I'd  stayed  dar  till  my  dyin'  day,  but  they  sol'  me,  Missus,  sol' 
me!  de  bes'  ban'  in  de  fieP  and  de  fus  at  de  backy  pickin," 
shaking  his  head  sorrowfully.  "  I  nebber  tought  ole  Massa 
Long  would  'a  dun  it." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"And  why  did  he  do  such  a  wicked  thing?"   said  Agnes, 
her  face  all  aglow  with  sympathy. 

"  I  reckon,  Missus,  dey  couldn't  done  help  derselves," 
said  he  in  a  resigned,  plaintive  tone.  "  You  see  de  niggas  will 
increase  so  fas',  so  berry  fas'.  Ebery  year,  rain  or  shine,  dat 
crop  o'  niggas  am  always  shuah.  In  course  de  plantation 
can't  hold  'em  all.  So  ebery  year,  dere  comes  from  de  Souf, 
whar  dey  raise  de  cotton,  a  man  wid  de  money  in  his  fis',  to 
buy  up  de  spar  hands.  I  seen  'm  go  many  times,  an'  I  hear 
dem  cryin'  an'  moanin',  an'  I  see  de  dead  look  in  dere  faces, 
but  I  didn'  mind  it  much,  'cos  as  I  tole  yer,  I  was  de  bes'  han' 
in  de  fiel'  an'  I  tought  Massa  couldn'  spar  me,  an',  bress  your 
soul !  niggas  is  like  chillun,  when  de  sun  shines  to-day,  dey 
don't  tink  ob  de  rain  what  may  come  to-morrow,  an'  dey 
nebber  feel  de  sting  ob  de  lash,  until  it  strikes  on  dere  own 
backs.  An'  it  done  come  to  me  at  las',  jess  like  lightnin'  from 
a  clear  sky,  an  it  struck  jess  here,  Missus,"  putting  his  great 
black  hand  over  his  heart.  "  When  I  war  tole  dat  ole  Massa 
done  sold  me,  an'  dat  I  must  pack  up  my  traps  an'  move 
along  widout  so  much  as  goin  up  to  de  house  to  see  Cinthy, 
'cause  Missus  didn't  want  no  flar-up,  an'  when  de  chillun  cum 
runnin'  to  me  wid  de  tears  in  dere  eyes  to  say  good-bye,  an'  I 
stoop  ober  to  kiss  dem,de  new  Massa's  oberseer  struck  me  with 
his  whip  an'  tole  me  to  lGit  along  dar,  an'  hab  done  wid  dat  dam 
nonsense,'  and  Mose  broke  down  completely,  weeping  and  sob 
bing,  while  Agnes  sobbed  in  sympathy,  and  tears  stood  in  the 
eyes  of  the  strong  men  who  listened,  two  of  whom,  at  least, 
could  appreciate  the  strength  of  the  ties  thus  rudely  sundered. 

"And  how  came  you  here?"  inquired  Alden. 

"  Wai  I  war  taken  to  Louisianny  an'  put  to  work  in  de 
cotton  fiel',  but  somehow  I  wor  no  'count;  I  wor  all  broke 
down  an*  couldn't  work  no  more,  an*  dey  beat  me,  an'  beat 
me,  but  it  didn't  do  no  good,  nuffin  hurts  de  back  when  de 
heart  am  clar  done  broke,  Massa." 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  89 

"But  how  came  you  here?"  John  inquired  again. 

"  Wai,  it's  jess  dis  way :  Massa  Wilson  he  done  got  tired 
o'  whackin,  an  gib  me  up,  said  I  wor  no  'count  nohow,  an' 
sole  me  to  Massa  Jenkins  for  free  hundred  dollars,  me,  de  bes' 
han'  in  ole  Massa  Long's  fiel'  sol'  for  free  hundred  dollars!" 
and  his  eyes  and  tone  of  voice  spoke  volumes  of  wounded 
pride  at  the  low  value  set  upon  him.  "  Massa  Jenkins  he 
wor  comin'  to  Kansas  an'  he  tought  mebbe  de  wedder  being 
colder  might  put  some  life  inter  me.  Mebbe  it  has!  Mebbe 
it  has,"  brightening  up,  "for  I  learnt  up  dar,"  pointing  west, 
"from  a  white  man  what  done  tuk  a  claim  near  Massa  Jenkins, 
dat  if  I  could  git  away  to  de  Norf,  I  should  be  a  free  man,  an' 
I  might  take  de  money  what  I  could  arn  an'  buy  Cinthy  an' 
de  chillun  from  ole  Massa  Long,  an'  'pears  like  I  could 
work  all  day  an'  all  night  too,  for  dat,  massa-" 

"How  long  since  you  left  Mr.  Jenkins?"  inquired  Harley. 

"  Free  nights  and  two  days,  Massa.  Dis  hyer  prairie 
country  am  mighty  hard  to  hide  in,  an  I'  done  had  to  trabbel 
mos'ly  in  de  night,  an'  den  I  got  lost  sometimes,  an'  don' 
know  which  way  to  go."  But  looking  earnestly  and  in 
quiringly  at  the  listeners:  "De  good  man  wid  de  broad 
brimmed  hat,  wot  tole  me  'bout  de  Norf,  said  I  would  fin' 
somewhar  'bout  hyer  de  road  undergroun'  dat  leads  straight 
to  freedom.  You  don't  none  ob  youun's  know  whar  de 
startin'  pint  am  ?  Couldn't  you  done  put  a  po'  feller  on  de 
right  track!" 

Langtry  looked  at  Alden  significantly.  He  knew  well 
what  was  meant  by  the  underground  railroad,  though  he  had 
never  yet  acted  as  a  conductor,  nor  established  a  station  at  his 
own  house.  He  did  not  reply  immediately,  but  the  womanly 
nature  of  Agnes  was  fully  roused,  and  rising  and  coming 
toward  her  husband,  who  still  sat  in  the  doorway,  the  moon 
which  had  now  risen,  shining  full  into  her  earnest  face: 

"  Edward,"  she  said,  "do  you  hesitate?     If  this  man  were 


QO  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

in  danger  of  his  life  from  savages,  you  would  protect  him  at 
the  hazard  of  your  own.  How  much  more  then  should  you 
save  him  from  those  who  would  deprive  him  of  his  liberty, 
which  is  dearer  than  life.  You  might  not  offer  it  to  him,  but 
when  he  has  put  forth  his  own  hand  to  grasp  it,  shall  you 
thrust  him  back,  or  will  you  bring  the  precious  boon  within 
his  reach?" 

Before  Langtry  had  time  to  reply,  Harley  broke  in  with: 
"But  there  is  a  law  against  harboring,  or  in  any  manner 
assisting  fugitive  slaves,  and  the  penalty  for  its  violation  is  fine 
or  imprisonment." 

She  turned  and  looked  him  full  in  the  face,  with  those 
clear  blue  eyes  which  never  failed  to  see  the  right, 

"  Mr.  Harley,  there  is  a  higher  law,  the  law  of  God,  the 
penalty  for  the  violation  of  which  is  moral  degradation. 
Edward,"  pleadingly,  "  you  will  not  be  misled  by  this  seem 
ing  conflict  of  duties;  you  will  help  him?" 

"  Of  course,  Agnes,  I  had  not  for  a  moment  thought  of 
doing  otherwise,"  said  Edward,  calmly. 

"  Forgive  me  dear,"  said  she  humbly,  "but  you  seemed  to 
hesitate." 

"Did  I?  I  was  unconscious  of  it.  My  thoughts  were 
busy,  even  before  the  story  was  finished,  with  the  difficult 
problem  of  concealment,  for  of  course  he  must  remain  hidden 
about  here  for  some  time  until  the  search  is  over." 

"  I  will  never  doubt  you  again,  even  for  a  moment.  You 
always  do  right,"  said  she  joyfully,  and  then  going  over  to 
the  fire,  where  the  negro  sat  with  anxious  face,  looking  from 
one  to  another,  she  exclaimed: 

"  He  will  take  care  of  you.  My  husband  will;  you  need 
not  fear,"  and  the  poor  runaway,  his  emotional  nature  strung 
up  to  the  highest  pitch,  fell  upon  his  knees,  his  hands  upraised, 
crying: 

"  Bress  de  Lawd !  Bress  de  Lawd,  oh  my  soul !" 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  91 

"  I  think,"  said  Alden,  taking  Mrs.  Langtry's  place  near 
the  door  and  addressing  his  friend,  who  seemed  lost  in 
thought,  "that  I  can  furnish  him  a  safe  hiding  place." 

"Ah!     Where?" 

"  Over  on  Arthur  Fairchild's  claim.  You  know  where  the 
creek  turns  so  abruptly  to  the  west  ?  The  bank  is  quite  high  and 
rocky  there,  and  covered  with  a  thick  undergrowth  of  cedars." 

"  I  know  the  place." 

"  There  is  a  deep  cave  or  « dug-out '  there,  with  its  entrance 
completely  hidden.  It  was  constructed  by  Arthur's  hired 
negro  man,  after  the  fright  the  ruffians  gave  him,  and  he 
slept  there  until  he  could  get  out  of  the  Territory." 

44  But  will  he  be  warm  there  ?"  asked  Agnes. 

"Certainly,  it  is  warm  anywhere  under  ground;  besides, 
there  is  a  bed  of  hay,  and  I  can  let  him  take  some  blankets 
which  the  other  one  scented." 

They  all  laughed  at  this,  and  then  Langtry  turned  to  Bentz 
and  to  Harley,  who  had  sunk  into  a  chair  after  the  rebuff 
given  by  Agnes : 

"  You  gentlemen,  need  not  feel  responsible  for  this  affair. 
If  in  your  opinion  the  law  of  the  land  is  supreme,  whether 
founded  in  justice  or  not,  I  shall  not  question  your  decision ; 
but  to  me,  no  law  comes  with  a  supreme  obligation  which 
stifles  the  feelings  of  humanity,  and  robs  us  of  the  right  to 
alleviate  human  suffering." 

"I  think,"  said  Harley,  "that  after  all,  I  will  share  the 
risk  with  you." 

"And  I,  too,"  said  Bentz.  "  My  sympathies  are  with  the 
poor  man." 

"  Very  well,  then,"  said  Langtry.  "  You  stay  here  and 
keep  my  wife  company,  while  Alden  and  I  put  Mose  in  a 
safe  place." 

"  That's  taking  risks  with  a  vengeance.  You  had  better 
let  me  go  with  you,"  said  Bentz. 


92  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN 

"  No,  I  think  it  better  for  you  not  to  know  exactly  where 
the  man  is,  in  case  you  are  asked.  Alden  shall  show  me 
where  the  place  is,  and  I  alone  will  see  him  safely  housed. 
A  little  prudence  combined  with  your  zeal  makes  it  a  safe  and 
healthy  mixture,"  said  he  jocosely.  "  Put  him  up  food  for 
to-morrow,  Agnes.  It  may  not  be  safe  to  go  near  him  until 
the  day  after;  and  give  him  the  whistle  with  which  you  call 
me  from  the  field.  I  will  show  him  how  to  use  it  to  bring  us 
to  his  aid  in  case  he  is  discovered  in  Alden's  absolutely  safe 
retreat." 

She  complied  with  both  requests,  and  then  the  three 
started  for  the  cave,  halting  at  Alden's  cabin  for  blankets. 
Near  its  entrance  John  turned  away,  and  Langtry  alone  saw 
him  enter. 

The  poor  negro  remained  there  in  safety  for  four  days, 
and  then  Edward  Langtry  borrowed  Alden's  team  for  a  visit 
to  a  good  Quaker,  who  lived  twenty  miles  nearer  the  Ne 
braska  line. 

The  day  after  Christmas,  Major  Jenkins,  with  a  half 
dozen  mounted  men  galloping  at  his  heels,  called  at  every 
house  in  the  settlement  to  inquire  for  a  runaway  negro.  Sev 
eral  had  seen  him,  but  no  one  knew  of  his  present  where 
abouts,  save  one  man,  and  him  they  did  not  encounter.  The 
gallant  Major  who  had  traced  him  thus  far,  and  then  lost 
sight  of  him,  was  loth  to  give  him  up,  but  finally  retired, 
vowing  vengeance  on  the  Free  State  party  in  general,  and 
the  Walnut  Grove  Colony  in  particular. 


CHAPTER    XII. 


Mrs.  Langtry  had  not  announced  a  reception  at  her  house 
on  New  Year's  Day.  She  had  not  decorated  her  drawing 
room  and  prepared  a  feast.  She  did  not,  when  the  morning 
came,  array  herself  in  jewels  and  rich  robes,  and  don  her 
sweetest  smiles  and  most  engaging  manners,  to  greet  the 
friends  who  came  to  pay  her  the  compliments  of  the  season. 
She  had  some  guests,  however,  who  claimed  her  hospitality 
with  somewhat  of  presumption  in  their  manners. 

The  morning's  work  was  done.  Her  kitchen,  dining- 
room,  bed-room, parlor,  and  sitting-room,  combined  in  one,  was 
neatly  swept,  the  fire  in  the  huge  stone  fire-place  was  smold 
ering  low,  the  table  cleared — its  snowy  cloth  removed  to  give 
place  to  one  whose  crimson  hue  harmonized  with  the  ribbons 
which  looped  the  white  Swiss  curtains  back  from  the  one 
window  opening  to  the  south.  The  breakfast  dishes  nicely 
washed,  were  ranged  upon  the  shelves  with  curtains  drawn 
to  shield  them  from  the  dust.  The  bed  was  neatly  made  and 
dressed  in  counterpane  of  white,  the  pillows  covered  with 
slips  adorned  with  ruffles, — no  shams.  The  milk  was  strained 
into  shining  pans,  and  then  the  rich  cream  skimmed  and 
poured  into  the  churn,  whose  painted  sides  of  undimmed 
blue  proclaimed  its  newness. 

And  now  that  order  reigned,  the  blue-eyed  mistress  of 
the  cabin  seated  herself  on  a  low  stool  beside  the  churn,  and 
swiftly  moved  the  dasher  to  and  fro,  singing  the  while  a 

93 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  95 

cheerful  song  which  bubbled  forth  as  if  unconsciously  from  a 
happy  heart. 

Her  back  was  toward  the  door.  She  heard  it  open 
slowly,  and  turned,  expecting  to  meet  her  husband's  familiar 
face.  Instead,  her  astonished  gaze  fell  upon  an  unwonted 
sight,  one  which  she  had  many  times  desired  to  see,  declaring 
her  pioneer  experience  incomplete  without  it,  and  yet  a  sight 
which  startled  and  confused  her,  coming  thus  unexpectedly, 
and  when  she  was  alone. 

It  was  three  Indians,  gaudy  with  feathers  and  war-paint, 
wrapped  in  gay  blankets,  who  waited  not  for  an  invitation, 
but  gravely  uttering  their  salutations,  "  How !"  "  How !" 
entered,  and  proceeded  to  make  themselves  at  home.  Gazing 
around  the  room,  and  taking  in  at  a  glance  all  the  little  orna 
ments  which  served  to  soften  its  rough  outline,  they  grunted 
out  an  approving,  "  Much  good !"  and  then  nonchalantly 
seated  themselves  near  the  fire,  two  of  them  letting  their 
blankets  fall  as  they  did  so.  Agnes  was  somewhat  reas 
sured  by  perceiving  that  the  dress  of  one,  as  well  as  her 
smaller  size  and  more  delicate  form,  showed  her  to  be  a 
squaw.  They  stretched  forth  their  hands  to  the  fire  and 
seemed  to  luxuriate  in  the  genial  warmth,  expressing  their 
satisfaction  in  grunts,  and  the  one  phrase,  "  Much  good!" 

Then  the  larger  one  turning  from  the  fire  to  the  hostess, 
said:  "Me  Kantakee.  Me  much  hunger,"  and  opening 
wide  his  mouth  and  pointing  therein,  indicated  that  there  was 
a  vacuum  beyond,  and  the  second  following  the  example  of 
his  chief,  also  introduced  himself,  «  Me  Wasumka,"  and  the 
squaw,  "Me  Sandbar,"  and  they  too  declared  themselves  by 
most  expressive  gestures  and  wide-open  mouths,  to  be  in  the 
same  unsatisfactory  condition. 

Hospitably  inclined,  Mrs.  Langtry  sought  her  stores  and 
brought  forth  bread  and  meat,  and  cutting  three  large  slices 
of  each,  she  smilingly  gave  them  to  her  visitors,  who  again 


96  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

grunted,  u  Much  good!"  though  with  never  a  smile  on  their 
stolid  faces,  and  they  gravely  munched  in  unison,  while  the 
mistress  resumed  her  churning,  yet  watching  their  motions 
with  interest,  and  taking,  woman-like,  an  inventory  of  their 
wardrobes. 

Kantakee  wore  a  girdle  of  red  sustained  by  a  leather 
strap;  his  hair  was  parted  in  the  center,  and  the  front  portions 
brought  down  over  each  shoulder  in  plaits  whose  length  was 
increased  by  the  introduction  of  horse-hair  and  other  sub 
stances,  while  the  back  hair  was  fastened  in  a  brass  ring, 
and  the  whole  surmounted  by  a  head-dress  of  feathers  of 
gaudy  colors.  He  wore  ear-rings,  a  necklace  of  beads,  and 
a  heavy  brass  chain,  besides,  he  had  armlets  of  brass  wire 
coiled  to  the  elbows,  and  each  finger  had  its  ring.  In  his 
hand  was  a  bow  and  a  few  arrows,  the  latter  sharp  at  the 
point  and  fledged  with  goose  quill.  His  moccasins  were 
beaded  in  bright  colors.  Other  adornment  had  he  none  save 
streaks  of  bright  paint  across  his  brow,  and  spots  and  patches 
of  red  and  yellow  in  various  places  on  his  naked  body. 

Wasumka  retained  his  blanket  so  closely  drawn  that  his 
ornaments  were  not  open  to  observation,  and  whether  he  had 
lost  his  scalp  or  not,  Agnes  could  not  say,  but  he  wore  a  yel 
low  handkerchief  closely  drawn  about  his  head  and  tied  un 
derneath  his  chin,  which  gave  him  quite  a  grandmotherly 
appearance. 

Sandbar  was  a  gay-looking  squaw,  with  beaded  mocca 
sins  and  a  bright  blue  robe  reaching  to  her  bare  knees,  and 
held  about  her  person  by  a  stout  leather  belt,  probably  in 
tended  by  the  maker  for  a  part  of  the  harness  of  some 
Western  team,  but  it  was  now  ornamented  with  a  triple  row 
of  brass  buttons,  and  converted  to  fairer  use.  She  had  ear 
rings,  armlets  big  and  little,  and  finger  rings.  Her  hair  was 
parted  and  plaited  not  wholly  unlike  that  of  some  of  her 
more  civilized  sisters,  and  adorned  with  feathers  and  beads. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  97 

Her  forehead  was  daintily  streaked  with  lines  of  beauty  and 
grace  in  bright  blue,  flamingo,  and  yellow. 

These  three  uniquely-costumed  New  Year's  callers  did 
full  justice  to  the  refreshments  furnished  them,  and  when  the 
last  mouthful  of  the  first  installment  was  disposed  of,  with 
the  primitive  manners  of  untutored  nature,  they  greedily 
called  for  "  more,"  asserting  most  positively  in  pantomime  to 
Agnes,  who  at  first  shook  her  head,  that  there  was  still  an 
aching  void  in  each  capacious  form. 

So  persistent  were  they  that  she  finally  divided  the  re 
maining  bread  and  meat  between  them,  and  they  again 
munched  contentedly;  but  this  relay  vanquished,  and  the  sharp 
edge  of  hunger  blunted,  they  sighed  for  something  more 
dainty  wherewith  to  appease  their  appetites,  and  with  the 
remembrance  of  some  former  feast  from  hospitable  Yankee 
hands  still  fresh  in  memory,  Kantakee  rose,  took  one  of  his 
long  arrows  and  drew  an  imaginary  circle  on  the  floor, 
then  tracing  many  a  radius  from  center  to  circumference, 
as  the  sharp  knife  divides  the  luscious  pie  in  pieces  easy 
to  handle,  indicated  thus  that  the  dainty  would  please  his 
taste. 

The  hostess  heeded  not.  Then  Wjasumka  gravely  rose, 
his  blanket  clutched  with  one  hand  tightly,  and  with  the 
other  he  seized  the  poker  which  stood  near  the  fire-place, 
and  he,  too,  marked  off  the  magic  circle,  and  traced  the  lines 
from  center  to  circumference.  Agnes  shook  her  head  decid 
edly.  It  was  nearly  noon.  Mr.  Langtry  had  a  man  at  work 
with  breaking  plow,  and  these  uninvited  guests  had  already 
devoured  the  main  part  of  the  dinner  that  was  to  have  been 
set  before  him,  and  she  was  loth  to  give  them  the  dessert 
also. 

But  they  were  not  thus  to  be  balked.  Sandbar  arose,  leav 
ing  her  blanket  on  the  stool,  and  began  a  search  in  which  the 
others  joined,  the  squaw  taking  in  boxes  and  trunks  which 
6 


98  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

happened  to  be  unlocked,  while  the  two  males  attacked 
shelves  and  jars.  From  one  of  the  latter  they  soon  brought 
to  light  two  pies  which  they  divided  between  them,  Sandbar, 
by  this  time,  being  too  busily  engaged  before  the  looking- 
glass,  whose  use  she  had  divined,  in  adjusting  bows  and  rib 
bons,  collars  and  jewelry,  which  she  had  discovered  in  her 
search,  to  heed  them. 

In  her  despair  Mrs.  Langtry  thought  best  to  summon  her 
husband,  and  opening  the  door,  blew  a  shrill  blast  on  a 
whistle  kept  for  the  purpose,  and  whose  sound  could  be  heard 
on  any  part  of  the  claim.  Fortunately,  Langtry  was  near  at 
hand  and  came  quickly,  and  at  his  coming,  Sandbar  quietly 
yielded  up  her  treasures;  the  pie,  alas!  was  irrecoverable. 
The  whole  party  soon  obeyed  a  polite  but  positive  invitation, 
emphasized  by  the  display  of  a  Sharp's  rifle,  to  "Be  off!" 
saying  as  they  went,  "How!  How!  Much  good!"  with 
the  same  sang  froid  as  that  with  which  the  polite  guest 
repeats  the  stereotyped  expression  of  thanks  for  a  pleasant 
visit. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 
LETTERS — ARTHUR'S  CLAIM  JUMPED. 

On  the  tenth  day  of  the  New  Year,  John  Alden  received 
three  letters  from  Ohio. 
Mrs.  Alden  wrote: 

*  *  *  *  *  "I  am  glad  Arthur  has  come  for  us,  as 
I  presume  we  ought  not  to  travel  alone  through  the  border  country  in  its 
unsettled  and  excited  state ;  but  he  will  not  be  ready  to  return  before  the 
last  of  February,  and  we  have  been  in  readiness  for  starting  now  over  a 
month.  We  must  have  patience,  I  suppose,  and  some  day  or  other,  the 
meeting  time  so  long  delayed  will  surely  come.  *  *  *  * 

"  We  were  all  delighted  to  see  Arthur,  and  his  friends  and  acquaint 
ances  marked  the  improvement  in  his  physique  and  his  more  manly  car 
riage.  His  parents  are  very  proud  of  him,  and  I  am  sure  they  glory  not 
a  little  in  the  self-reliant  spirit  which  leads  him  to  take  his  own 
course,  and  bear  himself  with  courage  and  dignity  amid  the  hardships 
and  dangers  incident  thereto.  I  read  to  an  admiring  circle  of  friends 
and  relatives  your  account  of  his  defence  of  that  poor,  persecuted  free 
negro,  and  I  assure  you  he  became  the  hero  of  the  hour. 

"As  for  Grace,  the  story  did  not  seem  to  make  much  impression  on 
her.  The  fact  is,  she  takes  everything  good  and  noble  in  Arthur  as  a 
matter  of  course  and  his  unconcealed  devotion  to  herself  as  merely 
her  due.  *  ***** 

44  Your  loving  wife,  AMY." 

Arthur  Fairchild  wrote  to  John  Alden: 

"  DEAR  FRIEND: 

1  So  far,  I  have  not  had  the  opportunity  which  I  desired,  so  much 
of  my  time  seems  to  be  taken  up  by  my  friends.  There  are  gay  parties 
given  in  my  honor  by  the  young  folks,  which  are  well  enough,  provid 
ing  I  could  always  escort  Miss  Grace,  and  herself  alone;  but  both  young 
ladies  and  gentlemen  seem  to  cluster  around  her  like  a  swarm  of  bees, 

99 


IOO  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

and  if  I  find  the  field  clear  of  the  former,  the  latter  are  sure  to  be  out 
en  masse. 

"  I  console  myself,  however,  with  anticipations  of  the  long  journey 
which  lies  before  us,  during  which  I  may  be  able  to  secure  her  undi 
vided  attention.  She  does  not  care  a  penny  for  any  one  else,  I'm  sure  of 
that.  *******  ARTHUR." 

Arthur  wrote  to  the  Walnut  Grove  Association : 

"There  is  manifested  here  great  interest  in  the  coming  struggle  in 
the  Territory.  It  is  felt  to  be  the  battle  between  Slavery  and  Freedom. 
Nightly  there  are  meetings  held,  and  thesubject  is  discussed  in  all  its 
bearings.  I  shall  be  able  tcusecure  a  large  number  of  emigrants  for  our 
Colony,  and  I  am  urging  upon  them  the  necessity  of  an  early  start.  The 
name  Abolitionist  is  beginning  to  be  accounted  honorable.  *  *  * 

"I  shall  return  by  March  ist.  ARTHUR." 

The  Association  received  the  report  with  cheers,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  carry  out  their  portion  of  the  con 
tract,  by  breaking  a  certain  number  of  acres  on  Arthur's  place. 

John  Alden  was  made  chairman  of  this  committee,  and  the 
next  day,  accompanied  by  a  plowman,  with  ox-team,  he  set 
out  to  begin. 

He  had  not  been  on  Arthur's  place  for  some  time,  having 
no  reason  to  suspect  that  anything  was  wrong.  What  was  his 
surprise  therefore,  on  nearing  the  timber  to  observe  a  thick 
smoke  curling  upward  as  if  from  a  camp-fire. 

He  hastened  forward,  and  in  the  thickest  portion  of  the 
woods,  where  the  branches  of  the  trees  were  interwoven  over 
head,  and  there  was  an  abrupt  descent  in  the  land,  and  a  steep 
ridge  rising  beyond,  he  heard  voices,  a  child's  cry  and  a 
woman's  angry  tone.  Nearer  still,  he  discovered  an  irate 
mother  in  the  act  of  administering  salutary  discipline  to  her 
refractory  offspring.  She  ceased  as  he  approached,  and  the 
white-headed  offender  made  good  his  escape.  The  woman 
stared  at  the  intruder  a  moment,  and  then  resumed  her  work, 
which  was  evidently  cooking  the  morning  meal  of  pork  and 
corn  cakes  over  an  open  fire. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVERE.JCJN.  ;  ^  ;••  IOI 

Behind  her,  in  the  side  of  the  ridge,  vsjas.  a,  ,Tuc)ely;  con 
structed  "  dug-out,"  one  of  the  upright  kind,  extending  into 
the  hill,  with  a  frontage  of  boards,  which  must  have  been 
hauled  there  from  some  distance  and  deposited  in  the  night 
time  to  prevent  discovery.  A  dark-haired,  cross-eyed,  vicious 
looking,  middle-sized  man  sat  on  a  tree  which  he  had  felled, 
smoking  a  pipe  and  watching  the  woman's  movements  with 
hungry-eyed  interest. 

"Halloa  there,  stranger!"  said  Alden. 

The  man  took  two  or  three  long  puffs,  surveying  John 
coolly  before  he  deigned  to  reply: 

"  Halloa  yourself." 

Not  to  be  outdone,  as  he  had  likewise  his  pipe,  John 
seated  himself  opposite  on  the  stump  of  another  fallen  tree, 
and  also  smoked  awhile  before  asking: 

"  Where  did  you  come  from  ?" 

He  took  his  pipe  from  his  mouth,  expectorated  two  or  three 
times,  and  then  replied  >. 

« Illinoy." 

The  woman,  whose  back  was  turned  toward  them  now, 
turned  right  about  face,  placed  her  arms  akimbo,  and  advanc 
ing  a  step  or  two,  looked  her  lord  and  master  defiantly  in  the 
eye  and  said :  "  T'aint  so." 

He  did  not  correct  his  statement,  however,  but  satisfied  his 
conscience  with  a  confidential  wink  toward  John,  and  then 
calmly  puffed  away,  awaiting  the  drawing  out  process  with 
the  serene  complacency  of  a  latter-day  statesman,  so  Alden 
continued: 

"  How  long  have,  you  been  here?" 

"Wai,"  scratching  his  head  and  expectorating:  "Wai, 
nigh  onto  a  month,  I  reckon." 

His  interrogator  knew  this  to  be  a  falsehood,  and  so  did  his 
truth-loving  spouse,  for  she  turned  again  angrily: 

"  Carr  Withers,  what's*  the  good  o'lyin',  when  the  truth'll 


102     -  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 


.  da  as  -/taSt,  •;';.&&  flying  right  inter  the  face  o'  Providence. 
«  Lemme  see,"  counting  on  her  fingers.  «  Monday,  Tuesday, 
Wednesday,  to-day's  Thursday,  hain't  it?  Jess  four  days 
we've  bin  in  this  hyer  dog-goned  place." 

He  laughed,  a  sort  of  chuckle,  as  if  he  rather  enjoyed  her 
obviously  antagonistic  feeling  toward  himself,  and  said  apolo 
getically  : 

«  Bets  didn't  like  this  hyer  move,  not  a  bit;  she  don't  like 
livin'  in  the  woods  away  from  her  folks;  but  I  say,  when  a 
man  can  git  a  good  piece  of  land  like  this  hyer,  an  licker 
an  'baccy  thrown  in,  it's  a  woman's  bounden  duty  to  stand 
by  him." 

Bets'  eye  flashed  fire,  and  she  was  about  to  oppose  this 
interpretation  of  wifely  duty,  when  Alden  interposed: 

"  But  this  claim  belongs  to  a  friend  of  mine,  Arthur  Fair- 
child,  who  has  gone  to  Ohio  on  business,  and  I  promised  to 
look  after  it  and  retain  it  for  him." 

Withers  had  resumed  his  pipe  and  former  disinterested 
demeanor,  and  he  now  gave  a  tremendous  whiff,  watching 
the  wavy  line  of  smoke  in  its  ascent  with  one  eye,  and  observ 
ing  Alden  with  the  other,  as  he  said  : 

"Promises  are  easy  to  make;  the  biggest  job  is  keepin' 
on  'em." 

"  That's  true.  1  keep  mine  nevertheless,  and  what's  more, 
I  am  not  the  only  man  bound  to  take  care  of  this  claim. 
There's  forty  of  us  under  oath  to  prevent  any  one  jumping  it, 
and  I  give  you  warning  that  you  will  have  to  leave.  I  shall 
report  your  presence  immediately."  John  Alden  spoke 
sharply,  for  he  was  irritated,  and  it  brought  his  opponent  to 
his  feet,  all  the  combativeness  of  his  animal-like  nature  fully 
roused,  his  cross  eyes  scintillating  sparks  of  fire  in  all  direc 
tions,  and  with  a  fearful  oath,  he  retorted  : 

"  Stranger,  thar's  some  folks  as  kin  take  oaths  as  well  as 
others,  an'  thar's  a  thousan'  or  mo're  of  us  boys  swore  by  the 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  103 

Eternal,  to  drive  every  last  dog-goned  Aberlition  sneak  outen 
this  hyer  Territory,  an'  we  mean  to  do  it  too." 

Here,  Bets,  seeing  a  conflict  imminent,  true  to  her  woman's 
instinct,  ranged  herself  on  her  husband's  side,  and  came  to  the 
rescue,  with : 

«  An  ef  you  don't  git  out'en  this  quicker'n  lightnin',  I'll 
take  every  derned  hair  off'n  your  aberlition  head,  dog 
gone  ye." 

Suffice  it  to  say,  the  Free  State  man  retreated  before  this 
combined  assault,  dreading  the  cat-like  paws  of  Bets  more 
than  the  sinewy  muscles  of  her  husband,  but  when  at  a  safe 
distance,  he  ventured  to  say  again :  "  This  claim  belongs  to 
Arthur  Fairchild,  and  we  have  promised  to  keep  it  for  him 
until  his  return,  which  will  take  place  in  three  or  four  weeks. 
As  you  have  a  family,  I  will  give  you  a  week  to  seek  another 
place  for  them.  At  the  end  of  that  time  if  you  still  remain, 
we—"  Bets  advanced  and  he  did  not  finish  the  sentence,  but 
he  heard  the  voice  of  Withers  call  out  threateningly: 

»  The  man  who  gits  this  hyer  claim  arter  me,  his  friends 
.  '11  be  sorry  I  didn't  keep  it.     Wai  they  will." 

Of  course,  John  laid  these  facts  before  the  Association,  and 
they  resolved  to  wait  the  week  allotted,  hoping  that  in  the 
meantime  Withers  and  his  flock  would  depart  in  peace.  But 
no.  They  drove  off  the  man  with  his  plow,  obliging  him  to 
make  double  quick  time  with  his  oxen,  in  order  to  escape 
Bets'  nimble  feet  and  outstretched  paws,  to  say  nothing  of 
her  fluent  speech.  And  then  Withers  went  on  hacking  and 
destroying  the  best  trees  with  the  most  outrageous  disregard 
of  economy,  while  Bets  gave  free  scope  to  the  belligerent 
spirit  within  her,  alternately  spanking  her  children,  and  rail 
ing  at  her  husband,  a  species  of  connubial  bliss  to  which  he 
had  no  doubt  become  hardened,  and  but  for  which,  his  life 
would  have  sunk  into  a  drear  monotony. 

At  the  end  of  the  week  the  Association,  in  full  force,  and 


104  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

well  armed,  paid  the  intruder  a  visit,  and  informed  Wither 
that  they  had  come  to  move  him.  He  made  no  resistance, 
but  quietly  sat  and  smoked,  only  breaking  his  silence  to 
interrupt  occasionally  the  monologue  of  abuse  showered  upon 
them  by  his  gifted  spouse,  with: 

"  Be  still  Bets,  you  ole  fool  you!"  and  when  his  lean  horses 
were  harnessed  to  his  rickety  old  wagon,  and  his  valuables 
piled  on,  even  to  the  boards  which  formed  the  frontage  of  his 
dug-out,  and  when  they  had  surmounted  the  load  with  his 
flaxen-haired  children,  and  ordered  him  to  get  in  and  drive 
off,  he  mounted  the  bench  with  alacrity,  and  took  the  lines 
much  to  the  disgust  of  Bets,  who,  clear  grit  to  the  last,  refused 
to  leave  the  premises  until  her  husband  threatened  to  drive 
off  without  her,  and  did  actually  move  on  some  distance. 
But  when  those  much  abused  children  set  up  a  heart-rending 
cry  of  "  Mammy!"  that  cry  which  never  fails  to  thrill  the 
depths  of  a  mother's  heart,  and  break  down  the  stoniest 
resolve,  she  made  haste  after  them,  climbed  into  the  wagon, 
and  Withers  drove  to  the  south  until  he  had  passed  Alden's 
claim,  and  then  turning  to  the  west,  crossed  the  creek  and 
made  his  way  to  Calhoun,  where  he  was  evidently  expected, 
and  where  he  became  a  fixture,  taking  possession  of  Sile  Har- 
diker's  large  building,  keeping  a  hotel  and  dealing  out  whis 
key  and  groceries  from  behind  the  bar,  while  Bets  in  the 
kitchen  cultivated  her  talent  for  preparing  corn-dodgers  and 
frying  pork. 

Sile  himself,  having  attained  to  the  dignity  and  emoluments 
of  justice  of  the  peace,  as  a  reward  from  the  pro-slavery 
authorities  for  his  distinguished  services,  built  a  somewhat 
neater,  though  smaller  cabin  for  himself  and  his  mother,  who 
came  to  live  with  him. 

Calhoun  presently  rejoiced  in  the  addition  of  a  black 
smith's  shop,  kept  by  one  Kirby.  It  stood  near  the  main 
road,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  "  Withers'  House,"  by 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  105 

which  name  the  inn  was  now  designated,  and  proved  a  very 
useful  institution,  saving  many  a  long  trip  to  Warsaw  for 
repairs. 

When  the  association  had  thus  promptly  ejected  the  inter 
lopers,  they  decided  to  fulfill  the  remainder  of  their  part  of 
the  contract  at  once,  and  proceeded  with  a  will  to  the  erection 
ofa  ten  by  twelve  cabin. 

Many  hands  make  light  work,  and  a  few  days  were  suf 
ficient  to  complete  it,  and  then  Alden  hired  a  man  on  his  own 
responsibility,  knowing  that  it  was  what  Arthur  would 
approve,  to  hew  the  rails  for  fencing  the  land,  on  which  the 
patient  plowman,  with  his  strong-shouldered  oxen,  now  un 
molested,  was  turning  the  prairie-sod.  He  engaged  the  man 
to  sleep  in  the  cabin  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  his  own 
affairs,  building  a  shelter  for  a  cow  and  a  calf  which  he  had 
purchased,  and  putting  up  the  fence  for  which  he  had  already 
hewn  the  rails. 

The  long  winter  was  nearly  over,  the  long  winter  of 
lonely  exile,  and  the  springtime  of  nature,  and  of  love,  was 
returning  with  swift  footsteps. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

A   JOYFUL    REUNION A    NEW    LOVER COL.    DELANEY. 

That  pleasure,  which,  when  dimly  seen  in  the  far  off 
future  we  can  calmly  work  and  wait  for,  whose  possession  at 
some  distant  day  we  can  look  forward  to  with  joyful  anticipa 
tion,  and  yet  lie  down  at  night  to  dreamless,  recuperative 
sleep,  when  brought  nearer,  almost  within  reach  by  slow- 
footed,  yet  ever  onward-moving  time,  quickens  the  pulses 
and  sends  the  blood  bounding  through  the  veins  with  wild 
impatience. 

The  hour  approached,  was  almost  at  hand,  for  that  glad 
reunion  John  Alden  had  resolutely  put  from  him  in  the  bright 
summer  days,  resolving  not  to  drain  the  cup  of  joy  to  find  the 
bitter  dregs  of  humiliation  in  its  depths,  but  rather  to  work 
and  wait  until  his  own  house  tree  won  by  the  patient  labor  of 
his  own  Jiands,  should  offer  a  protecting  roof  to  his  loved 
ones. 

And  as  the  time  drew  near  the  pent  up  stream  of  emotion 
so  long  forced  to  move  sluggishly,  o'erleaped  its  barriers. 
The  days  seemed  interminable.  His  hitherto  willing  hands 
refused  to  perform  their  tasks.  Even  the  excitement  of  the 
primary  meetings  incident  to  the  coming  election,  awakened 
but  a  feeble  interest  in  his  mind. 

Two  letters  had  come  for  him.  The  burden  of  the  first 
was: 

"  We  will  be  in  Lauderdale  by  the  ist  of  March.     Be  sure  to  meet  us 
there.     *     *     *  AMY." 

1 06 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  IOJ 

The  other,  from  Arthur  Fairchild,  contained  a  draft,  with 
which  he  requested  his  friend  to  purchase  horses  for  him  in 
Lauderdale. 

<c  I  have  forwarded  to  your  address,  consigned  to  the  firm  Smith,  Os- 
good  &  Co.,  with  your  houshold  goods,  a  light  spring  wagon  of  my  own." 

Arthur  also  wrote : 

"The  ladies  wish  to  camp  out  on  their  way  up.  Come  prepared 
with  necessary  blankets,  etc." 

With  an  overflowing  heart  John  Alden  made  arrange 
ments  for  this  journey,  securing  first  a  man  to  live  in  his 
cabin  and  hold  his  claim  during  his  absence. 

After  a  two  days'  journey,  he  stood  one  morning  on  the 
quay  of  the  new  city,  Lauderdale,  amidst  countless  boxes 
and  bales  of  merchandise,  having  with  the  utmost  difficulty 
made  his  way  past  innumerable  teams  of  ^horses,  oxen  and 
mules,  that  stood  drawn  up  as  near  as  possible  to  the  wharf, 
awaiting  their  loads  of  freight. 

A  representative  of  the  firm  Smith,  Osgood  &  Co.,  whose 
warehouse  for  the  storage  of  freight  was  yet  the  open  prairie, 
though  in  imagination  it  loomed  up  in  grand  proportions  in 
the  near  future,  was  with  him,  and  by  dint  of  patience  and 
perseverance  they  found  the  boxes  directed  to  John  Alden's 
care.  They  were  soon  secured,  the  household  goods  placed 
in  his  wagon  and  sent  forward  to  Walnut  Grove,  and  Arthur's 
new  spring  wagon  unboxed  for  use. 

Alden  then  strolled  along  the  one  business  street  fronting 
the  quay  to  find  a  resting-place  for  the  night.  The  name 
"  Temperance  House  "  attracted  his  attention,  and  he  entered 
one  of  the  long  row  of  one-story  houses  covered  with  huge 
signs. 

As  the  name  of  "  mine  inn  "  implied,  the  only  beverage 
found  within  its  precincts  was  water,  a  bucket  full  of  which 
stood  at  all  times  on  the  side  table  in  the  general  sitting  room 
with  a  tin  dipper  attached,  for  the  use  of  the  guests. 


IO8  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

'  The  latter  were  mostly  Free  State  men,  and  allowed  Alden 
to  go  and  come  as  he  liked,  never  so  much  as  asking:  "  Are 
you  sound  on  the  goose?"  a  question  he  met  at  every  turn  on 
street  and  wharf. 

He  was  given  a  single  bed  in  a  room  where  there  were 
two  other  beds,  each  occupied  by  two  persons,  and  standing 
so  closely  that  there  was  scarcely  room  to  pass  between  them. 

Conveniences  for  the  toilet  were  entirely  wanting  within 
the  room,  but,  as  was  the  democratic  custom  at  that  time  and 
place,  there  was  a  board  behind  the  house,  forming  a  shelf, 
on  which  stood  two  large  wash-basins  filled  with  the  muddy- 
looking  waters  of  the  Missouri,  while  a  square  foot  of  mirror, 
with  comb  and  brush  attached  by  means  of  a  string,  arid  a 
couple  of  crash  towels  swung  on  rollers  near  by,  furnished  all 
the  bathing  apparatus  of  the  establishment,  and  which  was  in 
fact  more  than  some  of  the  guests  made  use  of. 

The  house  was  provided  with  a  long  wooden  porch  across 
the  front,  whereon  all  day  long,  men  sat  with  chairs  tilted 
back,  chewing  tobacco,  smoking  and  discussing  the  prospective 
value  of  town  lots,  and  that  never-failing  topic  of  interest,  the 
politics  of  the  Territory.  But  the  prevailing  mood  here  was 
mild  and  temperate;  no  loud  bluster,  or  bragging  of  personal 
prowess,  nor  brandishing  of  weapons,  to  keep  a  stranger  in 
a  state  of  perturbation,  as  at  other  places  of  resort  in  the  place, 
and  this  disposed  our  friend  John  to  eat  without  grumbling  the 
"Johnny-cake"  and  bacon,  set  before  him  by  "  mine  host," 
who  prided  himself  on  the  excellence  of  his  table  arrange 
ments.  That  John  was  unable  to  obtain  any  of  the  delicacies 
served,  such  as  rice,  pie,  or  apple  sauce,  was  solely  owing  to  his 
inability  to  acquire  the  sleight  of  hand  process  necessary  to 
transfer  them  to  his  plate  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye;  the 
crowd  that  pressed  in  eagerly  at  the  first  announcement  of  din 
ner,  being  able  to  make  a  clear  space  in  front  of  them,  and 
resume  their  places  on  the  porch,  in  five  minutes  by  the  watch. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  109 

As  night  came  on,  the  ceaseless  whiskey-drinking  showed 
its  fruits.  The  streets  and  numerous  saloons  were  full  of  as 
base  ruffians  as  ever  disgraced  humanity,  and  sounds  of  swear 
ing,  and  carousing  and  gambling,  fell  on  the  ear  unceasingly. 

Now  and  then  a  pistol  shot  was  heard,  while  cards  were 
scattered  all  over  the  streets  and  whirled  by  the  wind  in 
every  direction. 

The  better  portion  of  the  real  settlers  were  building  their 
houses  some  distance  from  the  river,  and  out  of  sight  and 
hearing  of  the  unpleasant  scenes  and  sounds.  The  city  had 
been,  like  others,  laid  out  with  a  view  to  future  greatness,  and 
lots  in  the  business  portion  were  already  selling  at  fabulous 
prices,  the  trade  of  the  plains,  and  the  fitting  out  of  govern 
ment  trains,  assuring  even  the  wariest  capitalist,  that  this  was 
no  "  ignis  fatuus"  blazing  up  for  a  moment  to  lead  him  on  to 
loss  and  disappointment. 

The  next  day  Alden  visited  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  found 
it  beautifully  situated  on  a  lofty  bluff  overlooking  the  Mis 
souri,  and  sufficiently  elevated  in  position  for  its  white  stone 
walls  and  familiar  flag  to  be  seen  for  miles  across  the  prairie. 
There  was  a  feeling  of  security  and  retirement  about  the 
fort,  which  rendered  a  resort  to  it  a  Belief  after  the  turmoil 
and  excitement  of  the  settlement  below,  and  which  tempted 
him  to  remain.  A  stronger  magnet  however,  attracted  him 
to  the  city,  and  his  business  accomplished,  which  was  to  pur 
chase  horses  for  Arthur,  he  was  soon  on  the  wharf,  attired  in  a 
new  dark  gray  suit,  a  becoming  hat,  neat  fitting,  well  polished 
boots,  and  seated  in  a  stylish  looking  vehicle  drawn  by  a  pair 
of  handsome  blacks  in  new  and  shining  harness,  gazing 
anxiously  down  the  "Great  Muddy,"  for  the  expected  boat. 

Two,  three  hours  passed  away  in  patient  waiting,  and 
still  no  boat  in  sight.  The  weary,  interminable  afternoon  and 
evening  passed,  and  yet  they  came  not.  One  or  two  boats 
laden  with  emigrants  aroused  his  eager  expectations  as  they 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 


came  in  sight,  landed  their  freight  and  passengers,  who  went 
their  way;  but  no  Arthur,  no  Grace,  no  Amy,  greeted  his 
longing  eyes,  and  it  was  not  until  the  afternoon  of  the  third 
day,  that  the  Prairie  Queen  came  in  bearing  her  precious 
freight,  and  John  descried  on  her  deck  as  she  slowly  moved 
up  to  the  landing,  amid  a  group  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  first 
the  manly  form  and  blonde  hair  of  Arthur,  then  recognized, 
not  the  form,  for  that  had  grown  stouter  and  more  staid  than 
he  remembered  it,  but  the  face,  the  pure,  good,  womanly  face 
of  Amy,  with  its  tender  brown  eyes  and  sweet,  expressive 
mouth,  though  there  were  lines  of  care  which  he  had  not  in 
memory,  and  a  slight  mingling  of  silvery  hairs  amid  those 
brown  tresses,  which  he  could  not  recall.  The  first  plank  put 
forth  from  the  steamer  to  the  landing  bore  John  Alden  like 
an  impetuous  young  lover  to  her  side. 

Once  more  he  held  her  in  his  arms,  his  dearly  loved,  his 
precious  wife. 


,"  he  said  in  broken  tones.  "  My  love!  Come  what 
fate  will  to  us,  we  will  never  again  willingly  be  separated." 

"  No,  John,"  she  whispered  with  arms  around  his  neck  and 
head  upon  his  bosom.  "  Never  again." 

Then  Grace  came  —  brown  curls  and  roguish,  laughing 
eyes,  clear,  white  complexion,  rosy  cheeks  and  lips,  a  slender, 
graceful  maiden,  slightly  taller  .than  her  mother.  "Papa! 
oh,  papa!"  she  cried  joyfully,  as  with  a  loving  embrace  she 
was  once  more  pressed  to  a  fond  father's  heart. 

Arthur  came  forward  to  shake  hands  and  receive  the 
"All's  well!"  which  John  communicated,  and  then  the 
party  realized  that  a  duplicate  scene  had  been  transpiring 
near  them  between  Col.  Delaney  and  his  daughter,  who  had 
come  from  South  Carolina  under  her  brother's  care,  to  join 
him  in  the  new  home  which  he  had  chosen  by  reason  of  his 
appointment  to  a  Federal  office,  and  also  because  of  his  interest 
in  the  extension  of  slave  limits, 


GRACE    ALDEN. 


112  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

The  Colonel  was  a  tall,  fine  looking,  dark-eyed  man,  whose 
gray  hair  gave  an  added  dignity  to  his  majestic  appearance 
and  haughty  manner. 

Miss  Delaney  was  a  handsome  brunette,  a  little  above  the 
medium  height,  with  a  clear  complexion,  rosy  cheeks, 
and  large,  liquid,  melting  black  eyes.  Indeed,  the  latter 
seemed  to  be  a  family  characteristic,  as  they  were  noticeable 
in  her  brother,  Roderick  Delaney,  a  specimen  of  South 
Carolina  chivalry,  physically  perfect,  and  with  that  easy 
carriage  which  marks  the  man  accustomed  to  respectful 
homage. 

He  had  a  broad  white  forehead  and  jet-black  waving  hair, 
a  nose  slightly  Roman,  a  well  formed  mouth  and  chin,  giving 
a  perfect  profile,  and  then  the  crowning  feature,  those  lustrous 
black  eloquent  eyes  with  long  lashes.  They  were  eyes  which 
could  express  love,  admiration,  attention,  respect,  or  scorn, 
loathing  and  defiance,  at  the  owner's  will. 

Unlike  his  father,  Roderick  Delaney  was  affable  and 
agreeable  in  his  manner,  with  none  of  those  haughty  airs  of 
condescension  apparent  in  the  bearing  of  the  elder. 

The  younger  man  had  but  just  returned  from  abroad,  and 
his  views  were  widened  by  culture,  and  the  sharp  edges  of 
prejudice  worn  away  by  contact  with  equally  positive  minds 
of  opposite  opinions  on  many  subjects,  with  whom  he  had 
associated  under  circumstances  which  compelled,  at  least,  re 
spectful  consideration,  and  although  still  held  to  the  sup 
port  and  defense  of  the  pet  institution  of  the  South,  by  the 
force  of  early  training  and  the  ties  of  interest,  his  faith  in  its 
divinity  had  been  rudely  shaken. 

Family  greetings  over,  there  were  mutual  introductions, 
by  the  travelers,  who  had  become  quite  intimate  on  the  ten 
days'  journey,  whose  unusual  length  they  explained  laugh 
ingly,  and  in  a  fragmentary  way. 

"  Have  you  been  waiting  long,  papa?"  inquired  Grace. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  113 

"  Yes,'*  John  Alden  replied,  "  three  days." 

"  And  I  have  been  expecting  you  for  a  week,"  said  Col. 
Delaney ;  "  I  could  not  imagine  what  detained  you." 

"  You  must  charge  h  all  to  the  low  waters  and  the  sand 
bars,  father;  we  were  no  sooner  off  one,  than  we  ran  on  an 
other,"  said  Roderick. 

"  I  think  we  shall  have  to  dredge  out  this  river  when  we 
settle  up  the  Territory,  and  make  it  safely  navigable,"  said 
practical  Arthur. 

"Oh!  pray  do  not,"  cried  Grace.  "What  should  we  do 
then  for  incidents  of  travel!  How  our  diaries  would  suffer, 
and  for  my  part,  I  rather  enjoyed  the  novel  sensation  of  a 
little  danger." 

"  A  sand-bar  is  not  so  dangerous  as  a  snag,  but  both  are 
execrable,"  said  the  Colonel. 

"  We  became  accustomed  to  the  sand-bars-,  after  a  time  or 
two,"  said  Miss  Delaney,  "  and  knew  in  a  moment  what  was 
wrong,  when  the  boat  with  a  great  thump  and  shiver  through 
all  her  timbers,  came  to  a  sudden  stand-still." 

"Yes,"  interrupted  Grace,  "and  we  knew  we  were  all 
right,  when  the  tired  work  hands  after  hours  of  toil  gave  a 
shout  of  triumph,  as  the  great  vessel,  reared  upon  some 
cumbrous  apparatus,  all  at  once  walked  off  into  water  like  a 
schoolboy  on  stilts." 

"Quite  delightful,  I  allow  for  once  or  twice,  but  after  ten 
or  a  dozen  times  in  one  trip  it  becomes  monotonous,"  said 
Arthur. 

"  For  my  part,"  said  young  Delaney,  in  a  low  tone  to 
Grace,  by  whose  side  he  had  taken  his  stand,  "  for  my 
part,  I  could  wish  no  better  fate,  than  to  spend  my  life  travel 
ling  off  and  on  sand-bars  in  such  delightful  company." 

It  was  plain  by  the  flush  on  Arthur's  face  that  he  had 
heard  this  speech,  although  he  was  apparently  listening  to 
Miss  Delaney,  as  she  remarked. 

7 


114  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"We  young  folks  managed  to  pass  the  time  pleasantly 
enough,  with  our  music  and  cards,  and  our  moonlight  prom 
enades  on  deck;  but  Mrs.  Alden  must  have  found  it  ex 
tremely  dull." 

"  Oh,  no!"  said  Amy,  "  there  was  novelty  enough  in  the 
incidents  of  the  journey  to  make  it  interesting  to  me;  besides, 
I  found  my  position  as  chaperone  to  such  a  pleasant  company 
of  young  people,  a  very  agreeable  one." 

"Thank  you,  Madam,"  said  the  Colonel,  with  a  very 
stately  bow,  and  a  glance  at  the  group;  "I  presume  they 
needed  your  espionage." 

"Not  at  all!  Not  at  all!"  protested  Amy.  "I  assure 
you,  they  were  very  well  behaved." 

By  this  time  the  way  was  clear  for  them  to  land.  Col. 
Delaney,  with  true  Southern  hospitality,  invited  the  Alden 
party  to  stop  over  night  at  his  house  in  Lauderdale,  and 
pointed  out  to  them  where  it  stood,  on  one  of  the  hills  back 
of  the  town. 

Miss  Delaney  was  also  urgent,  and  appealed  to  Arthur 
with  those  expressive  eyes  of  hers  in  such  an  eloquent  man 
ner  that  his  refusal  seemed  almost  uncourteous,  politely 
couched  though  it  was  under  the  plea  of  hastening  home  on 
pressing  business. 

Amy  also  preferred  carrying  out  the  programme  that  had 
been  planned,  that  of  driving  as  far  as  possible  that  same 
evening,  and  camping  out  for  the  night. 

And  so  they  parted  at  the  landing  with  many  promises  of 
correspondence  and  mutual  visits  from  the  young  ladies,  and 
calls  from  Roderick,  who  reminded  the  Aldens  that,  his  col 
ony  being  near,  he  should  look  up  that  way  often,  during  the 
summer.  At  present  he  was  intending  to  return  to  St.  Louis, 
to  meet  a  number  of  new  recruits  who  were  on  the  road. 

"  We  shall  outnumber  you,"  said  he  to  Arthur. 

"  Not  a  bit   of  it,"  replied  the  latter.     «  The  few  who  are 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  115 

coming  from  the  North,  now,  are  but  a  promise  of  those  who 
will  follow  later  in  the  season." 

The  Delaneys  drove  off  in  their  fine  carriage,  with 
its  colored  coachman;  and  John  Alden  felt  glad  that,  instead 
of  his  rough  lumber  wagon,  he  had  a  new,  bright  spring 
vehicle,  with  its  nice  harness  and  gay  horses,  toward  which 
Arthur  gave  a  glance  of  approval,  as  he  assisted  the  ladies  in. 

And  now  our  travelers  left  Lauderdale,  and  went  west 
ward  at  a  rapid  rate  over  the  billowy  prairie.  The  air  was 
fresh  and  balmy,  and  the  sky  wonderfully  clear,  giving  a  long 
stretch  to  the  vision,  and  disclosing  in  the  distance  on  either 
side,  the  shapely  hills,  the  conical,  symmetrical  mounds,  and 
the  gray  bluffs  encompassing  the  valleys,  through  which 
coursed  gracefully  the  winding  streams.  The  ladies  could 
not  restrain  exclamations  of  delight;  yet,  remembering  the 
wondrous  beauty  of  the  landscape  in  its  autumnal  garb,  as 
contrasted  with  the  bare-limbed  trees  with  gnarled  and 
knotty  limbs  and  the  dreary  brown  of  the  surface  of  Mother 
Earth  at  present,  John  Alden  could  not  but  wish  the  season 
was  more  advanced,  and  that  spring  had  tinted  the  graceful 
slopes  with  green,  and  clothed  the  trees  with  foliage. 

Arthur  was  driving,  and  seemed  in  ihigh  spirits,  while 
Grace  sat  beside  him,  perfectly  at  her  ease,  and  they  kept  up 
a  running  flow  of  sparkling  conversation,  gay  comments  on 
the  travelers  whom  they  met  or  passed,  allusions  to  past 
events  and  persons  far  away ;  but  not  one  word  of  those  from 
whom  they  had  parted  so  recently. 

Amy  and  John  were  very  still  during  that  long  drive — 
too  happy,  indeed,  for  words.  Like  shy  young  lovers,  they 
only  looked  into  each  other's  eyes,  and  clasped  each  other's 
hands  in  silence.  The  afternoon  wore  away,  and  twilight 
came  and  deepened  into  night,  and  when  the  moon  and  stars 
shone  out  in  the  deep  blue  sky,  his  arm  unconsciously  stole 
round  her  waist,  and  her  dear  head  rested  once  more  upon 


Il6  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

his  bosom.  There  was  no  need  to  clothe  their  thoughts  in 
words.  Heart  said  to  heart,  "  How  precious  is  this  love 
which  time  and  absence  only  serve  to  deepen!" 

At  length  they  arrived  at  the  camping  ground  which 
had  been  selected,  and  gaily  set  to  work  to  make  arrange 
ments  for  the  night. 

Arthur  attended  to  the  horses,  while  Alden  lighted  the 
camp-fire,  prepared  the  coffee,  and  spread  upon  the  ground  a 
white  tablecloth,  borrowed  from  Mrs.  Langtry.  Then  he 
brought  some  material  for  luncheon  which  he  had  purchased 
in  Lauderdale,  at  a  restaurant,  and  Grace  and  her  mother 
arranged  it  tastily,  and  made  some  additions  of  jelly  and 
pickles  from  a  basket  of  their  own,  and  when  ail  was  ready, 
they  sat  down  to  a  pleasant  meal.  How  many  questions 
they  had  to  ask,  and  how  much  they  had  to  tell.  When 
supper  was  over  the  young  people  strayed  off  for  a  moon 
light  walk,  and  Amy  and  John  cleared  up  the  supper  dishes, 
disposed  of  the  fragments,  folded  up  the  cloth,  and  re-arranged 
the.  provisions  in  the  box  to  be  ready  for  breakfast. 

Interested  as  John  Alden  had  become  in  Arthur's  suit,  he 
could  not  forbear  asking  Amy,  as  soon  as  Arthur  and  Grace 
were  out  of  hearing: 

"Are  they  engaged  yet?" 

"Oh,  no!"  with  a  shake  of  the  head.  "I'm  afraid  they 
are  further  away  from  that  than  ever." 

"  Why,  how  is  that?  Arthur  was  relying  on  this  journey 
to  give  him  the  opportunity  to  make  it  all  right." 

"  Yes,  and  so  did  I;  but  the  Delaneys  had  taken  passage 
on  the  same  boat  with  us,  and  Roderick  immediately  recog 
nized  Arthur  as  a  Kansas  neighbor,  and  introduced  him  tc 
his  sister,  and  of  course,  then  Arthur  introduced  him  to  us. 
I  suppose  that  it  was  only  natural  that  Mr.  Delaney  should 
prefer  another  young  lady's  society  to  that  of  his  sister;  al 
any  rate,  that  is  what  he  did." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  I  17 

"And  did  Grace  seem  to  enjoy  his  society?" 

"  Indeed,  she  did ;  and  I  did  not  wonder  at  it,  for,  besides 
being  handsome,  he  is  a  perfect  master  of  the  art  of  being 
agreeable,  and  he  certainly  spared  no  pains  to  make  our  te 
dious  trip  pass  off  pleasantly." 

"Well,"  said  John  Alden,  positively;  "I  don't  want  a 
Southerner  for  a  son-in-law,  no  matter  how  handsome  and 
interesting  he  is.  They  are  all  alike,  conceited  and  overbear 
ing,  and  the  young  man  is  no  exception,  I'll  warrant. 
Beneath  his  suave  manner  you'll  find  the  same  domineering 
spirit.  How  did  Arthur  take  it  ? " 

"  Oh,  he  bore  himself  bravely,  and  in  fact,  Miss  Delaney 
was  as  charming  as  her  brother,  and  took  fully  as  much  pains 
to  make  herself  agreeable." 

"The  jade!"  John  interposed. 

"And  if  I  had  not  known  just  how  Arthur  felt,  I  might 
have  supposed  him  equally  interested  in  his  companion." 

"Good  for  him,"  John  said,  as  the  wanderers  returned, and 
Grace  came  to  him  for  a  kiss  in  the  old  childish,  affection 
ate  manner  which  he  remembered  so  well.  He  saw  at 
once  that  they  were  too  gav  for  betrothed  lovers,  and  seemed 
to  have  enjoyed  their  walk  and  each  other's  society  too  well 
under  the  circumstances. 

Both  gentlemen  were  soon  busy  preparing  for  their 
night's  rest  in  the  open  air.  John  had  brought  his  tent 
and  with  some  difficulty  they  arranged  this  to  form  a  canopy 
over  the  wagon,  in  which  they  made  a  bed  for  the  ladies,  and 
then,  wrapping  themselves  in  blankets,  they  lay  down  be 
neath  it,  being  thus  sheltered  from  the  dews  of  the  night, 
which  at  this  season  of  the  year  take  the  form  of  frost. 

With  the  early  dawn  the  party  were  up  and  away,  and 
the  next  afternoon  found  them  in  their  own  home. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

THE     NEW     HOME TEA     AT     LANGTRY's VISIT     TO     WAR 
SAW — BEAUTY'S  COURT, 

Never  had  the  newness,  the  blank,  uncultivated  appear 
ance  of  the  wide-stretching  prairie,  so  impressed  itself  upon 
Alden,  as  when,  upon  that  March  afternoon,  approaching 
nearer  and  nearer,  they  came  in  sight  of,  and  at  last  reached 
the  rude  cabin,  bare  and  brown  as  the  forest  trees,  fringing 
the  creek  to  the  west,  and  following  the  serpentine  course  of 
the  river  to  the  north  of  it.  And  as  they  halted  at  the  door 
of  the  new  home,  the  lack  of  symmetry  in  outline,  the 
rough  material,  the  contracted  proportions,  the  lonely  situa 
tion,  every  defect  hitherto  unnoticed  or  lightly  passed  over, 
stared  at  him  mockingly,  brought  into  full  relief  by  the 
bright  sunlight,  and  all  at  once,  separately  and  aggregately 
imprinted  upon  his  consciousness  by  his  intense  anxiety  for 
a  favorable  first  impression  to  be  made. 

Swift  as  a  flash  his  thoughts  went  back  to  the  home  to 
which  he  had  first  carried  his  bride,  and  then  to  her  father's 
house,  commodious  and  beautiful,  and  for  a  moment  he 
doubted  the  possibility  of  Amy's  being  contented  in  such  a 
place.  But  he  looked  into  her  face,  and  the  sunlight  of  hap 
piness  sparkled  in  her  eyes.  She  gazed  upon  the  rude  walls 
and  no  shadow  clouded  the  sunshine.  She  stepped  over  the 
door-sill  as  lightly,  and  trod  the  cottonwood  floor  as  firmly,  as 
though  her  footsteps  fell  on  marble  and  velvet  tapestry.  She 
looked  past  the  rough  window-frames  and  out  upon  the  Land 
scape  beyond. 

118 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  flC) 

"  How  lovely  are  the  bare-limbed  trees  outlined  against 
the  blue  sky,  in  this  glorious  sunshine." 

She  went  up  to  the  great  stone  fire-place,  and,  unnoting 
the  rude  masonry  which  stared  at  John  from  every  wide, 
mud-plastered  seam, she  said: 

"  How  cheerful  this  will  be  when  the  fire  is  crackling  and 
sparkling  on  the  hearth." 

Then,  seeing  the  ladder  in  the  corner  leading  to  the  room 
above:  "That  must  be  your  apartment,  Grade.  You  will 
find  use  for  your  calisthenic  training  in  mounting  to  your 
chamber."  And  thus  with  everything.  The  glamour  of 
love  was  breathed  upon  the  scene,  and  every  imperfection 
vanished,  every  beauty  stood  revealed. 

Arthur  went  to  work  to  build  a  fire,  and  Craig,  the  hired 
man,  coming  in  from  the  field,  assisted  Alden  to  open  the 
boxes,  and  arrange  sleeping  places  for  the  night.  The  bed 
steads  were  already  prepared,  and  unpacking  the  bedding  and 
making  up  the  beds,  was  the  work  of  a  short  time,  although 
unrolling  the  quilts,  and  pillows,  and  feather  beds  brought  to 
light  numerous  pieces  of  china,  which  Amy  and  Grace  care 
fully  ranged  upon  the  shelves  at  the  west  side  of  the  room. 

And  now  came  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Langtry,  with  an  invita 
tion  for  the  Aldens  and  Arthur  to  take  supper  with  them. 

In  speaking  of  Mrs.  Langtry  to  his  wife,  John  had  been 
careful  not  to  say  much  in  her  praise,  lest  by  raising  Amy's 
expectations  too  high,  he  should  defeat  one  of  his  dearest 
wishes,  that  a  warm  friendship  and  admiration  should  grow 
up  between  his  friend's  wife  and  his  own ;  besides,  he  hardly 
•  thought  it  fair  to  forestall  the  pleasure  of  discovery,  as  many 
do,  by  heralding  the  good  traits  of  an  acquaintance,  perhaps 
thus  challenging  a  critical  search  for  imperfections. 

Whether  this  would  have  been  so  in  Amy's  case,  determ 
ined  as  she  was  to  see  only  good  in  everything,  cannot  be 
known.  Certain  it  is,  both  she  and  Grace  were  delighted 


120  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

with  their  first  caller,  and  accepted  her  invitation  to  tea,  with 
pleasure.  They  were  pleased,  too,  with  her  neat  home 
which  suggested  possibilities  in  their  own;  but  John  Alden 
was  glad  in  his  heart  that  they  had  seen  the  cabin  in  all  its 
naked  ugliness,  and  treasured  secretly  those  incontestable 
proofs  of  a  devotion  which  could  thus  discover  the  bright 
side  under  the  darkest  possible  exterior. 

9  The  tea  was  gotten  up  in  Agnes'  own  inimitable  style, 
and  Amy  and  Grace  said,  laughingly,  that  they  would  be 
glad  to  take  lessons  of  so  accomplished  a  professor  in  the  art 
of  cooking  by  an  open  fire.  Whereupon,  Agnes  assumed 
all  the  airs  of  an  old  settler,  and  gave  the  new-comers  much 
valuable  information  concerning  the  pioneer  style  of  domes 
tic  processes — the  art  of  making  one  room  answer  for  four  or 
five,  and  one  cooking  utensil  for  half  a  dozen,  trunks  and 
boxes  to  serve  for  seats  and  storage  closets  at  the  same  time, 
and  above  all,  the  secret  of  concocting  favorite  dishes  without 
any  of  the  usual  ingredients,  and  devising  new  ones,  dainty 
and  appetizing,  from  unpromising,  unpalatable  material. 

Then  the  conversation  drifted  to  incidents  of  the  outward 
journey.  Notes  were  compared  as  to  experiences  by  the  way, 
pleasurable  or  otherwise. 

Grace  thought  traveling  by  the  steamer,  even  on  the  mud- 
dy  waters  of  the  Missouri,  "Most  delightful!"  while  Ar 
thur  voted  the  same  "A  bore!"  and  even  Amy,  "Rather 
preferred  a  railway." 

Langtry  hailed  this  difference  of  opinion  as  proof  positive 
that  all  experiences  are  subjective,  which  conclusion  was 
laughingly  combated  by  the  whole  party. 

Arthur  gave  a  humorous  account  of  his  colonial  agency, 
and  from  that  the  transition  to  politics  arid  the  condition  of 
the  Territory,  was  easy.  They  discussed  the  prospective  in 
stitutions  of  the  future  State,  with  not  a  doubt  but  that  they 
would  be  what  they  desired,  so  apparent  was  it  already  to 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  121 

those   who  had   eyes   to   see,  that  the  Northern  immigrants 
would  out-number  those  from  the  South. 

Altogether  it  was  a  memorable  evening,  and  is  still  looked 
upon  as  one  of  the  bright  spots  in  pioneer  experience.  Long 
they  sat  before  the  open  fire,  its  cheerful  light  and  genial 
warmth  emblematic  of  the  sympathetic  hearts  of  the  host 
and  hostess,  and  then  separated  with  heartfelt  wishes  for 
many  repetitions  of  the  same  delightful  intercourse. 

Bright  moonlight  seems  to  retard  the  footsteps  of  young 
people  the  world  over,  even  on  a  frosty  night  in  March,  and 
Arthur  and  Grace  came  on  slowly,  while  the  wedded  lovers 
hastened  to  sit  by  their  own  hearthstone,  full  of  the  sweet, 
blissful  consciousness  of  each  other's  presence. 

The  young  lover,  exultant  with  the  assurance  that  loving 
he  is  loved  in  return,  deems  himself  in  the  highest  state  of 
beatitude;  yet  is  his  joy  as  the  murmuring  brook  to  the  deep 
river  of  rapture  which  overflows  the  soul  when  made  sub 
limely  conscious  that  years  have  but  deepened  and  hallowed 
mutual  attraction. 

The  first  dawnings  of  that  holy  passion  are  no  more  to 
be  compared  to  the  love  which  has  stood  the  test  of  time  and 
absence,  the  trituration  of  petty  differences,  and  daily  common 
places,  and  which,  knowing  all  each  other's  imperfections,  can 
look  forward  without  shrinking  to  years  of  toil,  and  self- 
denial,  amid  uncongenial  surroundings,  than  is  the  rushlight 
by  which  we  can  dimly  discern  each  other's  faces  in  the  night, 
to  the  full  glory  of  the  noonday  sun. 

Craig  had  gone  over  to  sleep  with  Garret,  and  thither 
Arthur  also  went  when  he  had  said  "  Good-night  "  to  Grace 
at  the  cabin  door,  and  she  came  in  with  the  light  step  and 
sparkling  face  of  happy  girlhood,  and  ascended  to  her  chamber. 

With  the  morning  light  began  a  grand  transformation 
scene.  Amy  within  and  spring  without,  stretched  forth  the 
wand  of  power,  and  beauty  and  loveliness  reigned  supreme. 


*22  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

A  neat  rag-carpet  was  laid  upon  the  rough  boarded  floor, 
while  the  ground  was  covered  with  tender  grass,  and  many- 
hued  delicate  wild  flowers, 

Amy  hung  pictures  upon  the  brown  cabin  walls.  Spring 
sent  the  gentle  showers,  and  the  trees  clothed  themselves  in 
verdure,  and  stood  outlined  with  bluff,  and  hill,  and  deep 
ravine,  upon  a  background  of  green  prairie,  and  deep  blue 
sky.  The  merry  birds  sang  songs  among  their  branches, 
while  within,  sweet  voices  well-attuned,  chanted  in  harmony 
with  the  notes  of  a  guitar,  touched  by  light  fingers. 

And  withal,  the  daily  work  went  on.  The  fields  were 
already  plowed — the  seedtime  was  come.  Nature  smiles 
not  upon  the  laggard.  With  resolute  hand  she  points  the 
hour,  and  he,  who  would  gather  the  fruits  of  the  harvest, 
must  sow  the  seed  in  due  season. 

Amy  had  -brought  from  Ohio  a  good  selection  of  garden 
seeds,  and  north  of  the  cabin,  John  spaded  up  a  spot  for  a 
kitchen  garden,  and  planting  this  they  made  their  pastime, 
sowing  radishes,  lettuce,  peas,  onions,  and  later  on,  potatoes, 
melons,  and  various  other  vegetables. 

She  had  also  brought  some  young  fruit  trees,  peach,  apple 
and  pear,  carefully  packed,  and  these  John  set  out  immediately, 
and  the  genial  soil  took  the  tender  rootlets  and  germs  to  her 
bosom  with  a  true  motherly  instinct,  and  they  grew  and 
thrived  with  a  luxuriance  unknown  to  them  in  their  native 
climes. 

About  the  house  they  planted  honeysuckles  and  clematis, 
morning  glory  and  wisteria,  and  lo!  the  log  cabin  became  a 
vine-wreathed  cottage. 

Busy,  happy,  never-to-be-forgotten  days,  were  these,  full 
of  work,  and  full  of  hope. 

Occasionally,  the  threats  of  the  border  ruffians  would 
come  unbidden  to  John's  mind,  but  they  were  resolutely  put 
aside,  and  he  said  to  himself:  "Does  not  the  same  banner 


TITE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  I2£ 

float  over  us  here,  beneath  whose  protecting  folds  we  held  life 
and  property  securely  in  the  old  home?  We  shall  suffer  no 
serious  injury.  A  warm  contest  at  the  polls,  and  then  all 
will  be  settled  in  our  favor." 

The  second  week  after  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Alden  and 
daughter  in  the  Territory,  they  were  happily  introduced  to 
society  in  Warsaw,  and  the  event  proved  that  they  had  not 
left  all  social  pleasures  behind. 

The  occasion  was  a  visit  from  the  Governor  of  the  Terri 
tory,  to  the  city  of  Warsaw.  There  was  to  be  a  political  meet 
ing  in  the  afternoon,  and  a  reception,  with  music  and  dancing, 
in  the  evening.  A  gay  party,  consisting  of  the  Langtrys, 
Arthur  and  the  Aldens,  having  resolved  to  make  a  gala  day 
of  the  occasion,  drove  down  in  the  morning,  that  they  might 
have  time  to  visit  Mt.  Olympus,  and  from  its  highest  point 
give  the  ladies  a  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  then  to  the 
"  Pioneer  House,"  taking  dinner  with  Jake,  "  for  old  acquaint 
ance'  sake,"  although  a  rival  establishment  of  fairer  propor 
tions  and  more  inviting  appearance,  now  stood  by  its  side. 

After  dinner  the  ladies  rested,  while  the  gentlemen  at 
tended  a  meeting  of  the  original  town  company,  for  the 
transaction  of  business;  and  then  the.y  all  went  to  the  political 
gathering. 

Quite  a  number  of  ladies  were  present,  it  being  character 
istic  of  them  from  the  first,  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  affairs 
of  state,  and  seats  were  furnished  them,  and  in  every  way  their 
presence  made  welcome.  The  whole  Assembly  numbered 
perhaps  five  hundred,  and  they  cheered  heartily,  when,  in 
an  able  and  manly  speech,  Governor  Reeves  announced  his 
determination  to  carry  out  the  spirit  of  the  organic  act,  and 
allow  the  majority  of  voters  to  determine  the  local  institutions 
of  the  future  State. 

The  Governor  was  a  Democrat  of  Northern  birth,  and 
unable  to  read  the  organic  act  through  Southern  spectacles, 


124  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

and  see  in  its  provisions,  a  tacit  promise  of  the  Territory  to 
the  South. 

Other  speeches  followed  from  Free  State  leaders,  some 
quite  conservative,  and  others,  one  of  them  from  Langtry, 
quite  radical  in  its  tone,  deploring  the  evils  of  slavery,  and 
deprecating  its  further  extension,  after  which  the  meeting  ad 
journed,  and  most  of  those  in  attendance  from  the  country, 
went  to  their  homes. 

A  sufficient  number  remained,  however,  to  fill  to  over 
flowing  "  Free  State  Hall,"  in  the  evening,  where  a  newly 
organized  band  were  displaying  their  skill  on  various  instru 
ments.  It  was  a  striking  scene.  Such  a  mingling  of  races 
and  classes  on  the  democratic  plane  of  equality  has  seldom,  if 
ever,  been  witnessed.  The  learned  and  the  unlearned, 
the  gentle  and  the  loud-voiced,  the  courtly  and  the  boorish, 
exchanged  familiar  greetings,  and  moved  and  mingled 
among  each  other  in  social  unrestraint.  And  their  costumes 
were  as  varied  as  their  manners  and  their  places  of  nativity. 
From  the  dress  suit,  kid  gloves  and  polished  boots,  the  styles 
descended  with  an  easy  gradation  to  flannel  shirts,  and  stogas 
with  pants  tucked  in,  the  wearers  of  which  moved  in  the  mazy 
figures  of  the  dance,  or  discussed  politics  with  equal  "  sang 
froid." 

Among  the  ladies,  Amy  was  pleased  to  find  manv  of  re 
finement  and  culture,  with  whom  Agnes  and  herself  were 
soon  at  home,  and  as  for  Grace,  imagine,  if  you  please,  a 
handsome,  sparkling  young  lady,  not  quite  out  of  her  teens, 
rather  fond  of  admiration,  the  center  of  an  admiring  circle  of 
intelligent  and  cultivated  young  men,  the  very  flower  of  the 
youth  of  the  country,  having  tended  to  this  point,  drawn  by 
the  magnet  of  excitement,  and  the  possibility  of  political 
distinction. 

When  the  music  began,  Arthur,  as  was  his  privilege, 
claimed  Grace's  hand  for  the  first  quadrille,  but  it  was  his  last 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  125 

for  that  evening;  one  after  another  begged  the  honor  of  "just 
one  set,"  until  her  mother,  fearing  undue  fatigue,  positively 
forbade  another  dance,  and  she  took  refuge  from  invitations 
by  Amy's  side,  followed  by  a  score  of  admirers,  toward  whom 
she  bore  herself  with  all  the  dignity  of  an  American  queen, 
contributing  her  share  to  the  sallies  of  wit  which  went  rebound 
ing  from  side  to  side,  striking  here  and  hitting  there,  provok 
ing  audible  smiles  and  counter-hits,  until  it  was  time  to  depart. 
After  this  they  had  many  visitors  from  Warsaw.  The 
ladies  and  gentlemen  came  out  to  call,  and  inviting 
visits  in  return,  making  a  round  of  social  engagements 
which  proved  quite  a  relief  to  the  monotony  of  country  life. 
Another  change,  too,  was  brought  about  by  the  introduc 
tion  of  the  feminine  element  into  Alden's  household — there 
were  to  be  no  more  lazy  Sundays.  Amy  had  always  been 
accustomed  to  attend  church;  in  fact,  she  subscribed  to  the 
creed,  with,  perhaps,  a  few  unconscious  mental  reservations, 
and  Grace  was  soon  invited  to  become  a  member  of  the 
choir,  and  as,  like  Longfellow's  village  blacksmith,  John 
"loved  to  hear  his  daughter's  voice,"  he  went  willingly, 
and  Arthur  was  only  too  happy  to  drive  around  with  his 
"restive  blacks"  each*  Sabbath  l  morn,  and  carry  them 
down  to  Warsaw  in  his  wagon,  himself  the  envied  of  a  score 
of  young  men,  any  of  whom  would  gladly  have  driven  ten 
miles  or  more,  to  be  able  to  escort  to  church  the  belle  of  the 
county.  Not  one  of  them  but  did  frequently  drive  the  eight 
miles  from  Warsaw  to  Walnut  Grove,  to  be  in  attendance  on 
"beauty's  court,"  held  as  the  evenings  grew  longer  and 
warmer,  in  the  open  air,  on  the  south  side  of  Alden's  cabin, 
while  the  political  clique  met  at  the  same  time  for  graver 
discussions  on  the  east  side,  and  the  turbulent  feelings  gener 
ated  by  the  latter  party  were  often  softened  and  moderated  by 
the  music  of  the  young  people's  voices,  mingled  with  the 
sweet  tones  of  the  guitar. 


126  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

Arthur  being  made  prime  minister,  and  always  allowed 
attendance  on  this  squatter  sovereign  princess,  seemed  to  be 
happy,  and  had  not  as  yet  tried  to  bind  her  by  a  promise. 

"  I  am  afraid  to  risk  it  now,"  said  he  to  John.  "  I  must  bide 
my  time.  Of  course  it  annoys  me  to  see  her  smiles  dispensed 
so  graciously  to  others,  but  so  long  as  they  are  widely  dif 
fused,  I  can  bear  it,  rather  than  lose  my  share  by  attempting 
to  intercept  them  all." 

And  he  was  right.  It  was  much  to  be  able  to  blend  him 
self  daily  with  all  her  enjoyments,  to  become  a  part,  and  a 
pleasant  part  of  her  life,  to  surround  her  at  all  times  with 
an  atmosphere  of  protection  and  appreciation,  and  to  shower 
upon  her  little  acts  of  kindness  and  love,  which  should 
e-peak  for  him  with  a  thousand  voices,  when  the  auspicious 
moment  for  which  he  waited,  should  arrive. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

AN    AMUSING     VISITOR BLUE     LODGE     SECRETS GRACE 

ENTERTAINS    THE    SQUIRE. 

Soon  after  the  Alden  ladies  were  settled  in  their  cabin, 
they  received  a  visitor  to  whom  we,  as  did  they,  must  give 
special  attention. 

As  the  insect,  harmless  in  itself,  sometimes  deposits  in  the 
most  carefully-tended  garden  the  germ  which  develops  into 
the  parasite  that  fastens  upon  and  destroys  the  fairest  and  the 
best,  so  did  this  woman,  unconscious  herself  of  the  depths  of 
wrong  to  which  her  ambition  and  perverted  motherly  in 
stincts  would  lead  her,  come  to  them  appealing  for  a  little 
society,  a  little  instruction,  thus  fastening  herself  upon  those 
whose  kind  hearts  never  resisted  the  humblest  appeal  for 
sympathy.  She  was  a  wiry,  active  little  woman  of  middle 
age,, with  crafty-looking  black  eyes,  and  black  and  gray  hair, 
which  she  wore  gathered  into  a  knot  on  the  back  of  her  neck 
and  placed  in  a  net  of  scarlet  chenille,  that  extended  upward 
and  almost  covered  her  head,  and  was  tied  on  one  side  with  a 
heavy  cord  and  tassels.  Her  dress  was  of  bright  blue  woolen 
goods,  the  skirt  gathered  into  the  round  waist,  and  spreading 
out  full  and  flowing  over  a  huge  hooped  skirt.  She  wore  a 
large  lace  collar  with  a  bright  red  bow  at  the  throat,  and  an 
immense  gold  chain  round  her  neck,  to  which  was  attached 
a  large  gold  watch;  from  her  ears  hung  heavy  ear-rings,  and 
her  fingers  were  covered  with  showy  rings,  cotton  gloves 
were  on  her  hands,  and  her  shoes — half  high — disclosed 
with  every  tilt  of  the  hoops  gray,  home-knit  stockings. 

127 


128  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

She  wore  a  shawl  with  stripes  of  many  colors,  and  a  hat 
gorgeous  to  behold,  covered  as  it  was  with  flowers,  and  rib 
bons,  and  plumes.  Evidently  she  was  gotten  up  with  care, 
and  expected  to  make  an  impression  as  a  person  of  wealth 
and  importance. 

There  was  a  self-satisfied  look  upon  her  face  as  she  came 
toward  the  house,  having  been  deposited  a  short  distance 
off  by  her  son,  who,  as  soon  as  he  had  assisted  her  to 
alight,  vaulted  into  his  seat  and  drove  rapidly  away,  without  so 
much  as  a  glance  toward  Amy,  who  went  out  to  meet  her, 
or  Grace,  who  stood  in  the  door-way. 

"  How  air  ye  ?"  said  she,  coming  forward. 

"  Quite  well,  1  thank  you.     How  are  you?"  replied  Amy. 

"Tolable  peart,  thank  'ee;  but  I  wor  gittin' powerful 
homesick  and  lonesome  like,  livin'  up  thar  in  Calhoun,  with 
so  many  men  swarin'  and  jawin'  round,  and  no  wimmen  folks 
to  speak  on,  and  seein'  you'uns  drivin'  by,  lookin'  so  uncom 
mon  chirk,  I  jes'  made  up  my  mind  to  come  over  hyer  and 
get  acquainted.  Sez  I  to  Sile;  sez  I,  (that's  my  son,  an'  I'm 
the  widder  Hardiker),  «  Sile,  sez  I,  'taint  no  use  talkin,  I'm  a 
goin'  as  sure  as  you  live.'  Men  folks  will  do  onc't  in  a  while; 
but  for  a  stiddy  diet,  give  me  wimmen." 

"  I  think  so,  too,"  said  Amy,  putting  forth  her  hand  to 
clasp  the  white  gloved  one;  "  and  I  am  glad  you  have  come." 
And  as  they  came  up  to  the  door-step,  and  Grace  gave  way 
for  them  to  enter,  "  This  is  my  daughter  Grace.  Take  the 
lady's  hat  and  shawl,  Grace;  she  has  come  to  spend  the  day 
with  us." 

Pleased  with  this  reception,  the  woman  allowed  Grace  to 
assist  in  removing  her  hat,  and  then  seated  herself  on  a  rock 
ing  chair,  one  of  two  which  had  been  brought  from  Lauder- 
dale,  saying  meanwhile,  in  reply  to  the  introduction : 

"  Why,  you  don't  say  so!  A  right  smart  chance  of  a  gal! 
A  heap  o'  help  to  you,  I  reckon." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  129 

Mrs.  Alden  admitted  Grace's  general  ability  to  make  her 
self  useful,  and  then  the  visitor  flashed  her  sharp  eyes  about 
the  room,  seeming  to  take  in  at  once  its  every  detail. 

"Powerful  way  now,  Miss  Aiding,  you  Yankees  hev  o' 
gittin'  up  things.  Some  folks  think  'taint  no  use  hevin'  a 
cabin  slicked  up  an'  kind  o'  purty  an'  stylish  lookin';  but  I've 
allers  said,  an  I'll  say  it  again,  that  it  does  one  good  to  set  an' 
look  at  'em — them  picters,  I  mean,  an'  them  books  an' 
white  curtains.  'Tseems  somehow  as  ef  I'd  got  a  leetle  high 
er  in  the  world.  Did  you  make  'em?"  pointing  to  the  pic 
tures,  and  looking  at  Grace. 

"Not  those  on  the  walls;  but  I  will  show  you  some  of 
mine,"  and  Grace  brought  forth  a  portfolio  of  drawings  and  a 
few  paintings  done  in  water  colors.  The  widow  put  on  her 
spectacles,  crossed  one  limb  over  the  other,  regardless  of  the 
tilt  of  her  hoops,  and  settled  herself  to  examine  them,  peering 
curiously  at  every  piece. 

"  Cost  a  heap  to  learn  this,  I  reckon!" 

"  Not  a  great  deal  to  learn  to  do  as  well  as  this,"  said 
Grace.  "  I  only  took  lessons  one  year." 

"  I  reckon  it's  powerful  hard  to  learn?" 

"  Why  no,  not  so  very,  providing*  you  have  a  talent 
for  it." 

"Jess  so,  jess  so!  That's  what  I've  always  bin  a  sayin'. 
Folks  hain't  alike  no  more'n  critters.  Some  on  'em  has  faculty 
an' some  on  'em  has  drive,  an'  a  site  on  'em  haint  good  for 
nothin',  unless,  mebby,  it's  to  set  'round  and  make  trouble  for 
other  folks." 

After  the  drawings  and  pictures,  she  scrutinized  critically 
the  daguerreotypes  of  all  their  friends,  which  Amy  brought 
forth  for  her  entertainment,  then  the  books  and  the  china, 
and  when  through  with  these,  said : 

"  Lemme  see  your  cloze!" 

They  both  laughingly  declared,  that  their  wardrobes  were 


130  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

very  plain,  indeed,  and  hardly  worthy  of  inspection;  but  she 
insisted,  declaring  that  she  wanted  to  know  how  the  North 
ern  ladies'  dresses  were  made,  that  she  might  know  how 
to  make  her  own. 

"  Not  that  I  do  'em  myself.  I've  got  a  slave  gal  down 
in  Missoury,  that's  a  master  hand  at  sewin*,  an'  she  could 
make  'em  up  complete,  ef  she  had  some  one  to  learn  her. 
Now  you'd  jist  be  the  one  to  do  it,"  said  she,  turning  to 
Amy ;  "  only  I  dassent  bring  her  up  here." 

"  Why  not?"  said  Grace. 

"  La!  gal,  what  a  question!  Why,  yer  own  par,  or  Lang- 
try  over  thar,  'ud  run  her  right  off  under  my  nose;  fact! 
That's  why  I  came  myself,  to  keep  house  long  o'  Sile.  Ye 
see  he's  all  the  boy  I've  got,  an'  a  mighty  good  boy  he  is,  too; 
like  his  par — smooth  an'  easy,  and  lazy-like,  only  down  to  the 
bottom  an'  kind  o'  settled  like,  he's  got  his  marm's  grit,  an' 
ef  ye  stir  hard  enough  an'  long  enough,  ye  kin  rile  it  all  up, 
an'  then  thar's  the  devil  to  pay — beggin'  parding,  Miss  Ai 
ding,  I  reckon  you'uns  don't  use  no  sich  words." 

After  dinner  she  grew  even  more  communicative,  dilat 
ing  on  her  achievements  in  the  past,  and  intentions  for  the  fu 
ture,  in  true  frontier  style.  Evidently  the  little  woman  had 
an  object  in  life,  and  she  moved  straight  forward  with  a  will 
toward  the  end  in  view. 

"  My  ole  man,"  said  she,  "had  a  few  niggers  an'  a  piece 
o'  bottom  land,  most  on  it  swamp,  an'  the  way  he  run  it  wor 
a  caution ;  didn't  plant  nothin'  but  corn,  an'  raised  hogs,  an'  I 
vow!  them  hogs  e't  all  the  corn,  an'  them  niggers  e't  all  the 
hogs.  I  jawed,  an'  jawed;  but  t'want  no  use.  A  man  ain't  a 
goin'  to  be  teached  anything  by  a  woman,  partickler  when 
the  woman's  his  wife;  an'  so  he  sot  thar,  an'  let  'em  go  on, 
plantin'  the  little  patch  year  after  year,  an'  sellin'  off  the 
extra  nigs  to  get  whisky  an'  terbacker,  an'  a  kaliker  dress  or 
two  fer  me;  an' Mary  Jane  Spears,  she  that  was  a  Jonsing, 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  13! 

goin'  drest  in  silk,  turnin'  up  her  nose  at  me — waVt  half  so 
likely  a  gal  as  I  woz  nuther,  an'  Spears  wouldn't  a  tuk  up 
with  her,  nohow,  ef  he'd  had  any  show  long  o'  me. 

"  But  as  I  wor  sayin',  thar  my  ole  man  sot  in  that  thar 
swamp,  until,  as  the  preacher  said  at  his.  funeral  sarmount,  he 
wor  called  by  Providence  to  a  better  world.  Wai,  I  reckon 
he  wor;  but  the  first  thing  I  did,  when  I  got  to  be  the  boss  o' 
that  thar  plantation,  for  the  ole  fool  bed  sense  enuif  to  make  me 
Sile's  guardeen,  was  to  dreene  that  thar  swamp.  I  didn't 
keer  to  get  my  call  in  the  same  way  he  had  his'n,"  and  the 
widow  laughed,  thinking  this  a  good  joke. 

"  But,  as  I  wor  tellin'  ye,  when  I  got  that  swamp  land 
dreened,  I  made  them  niggers  put  it  in  corn,  an' the  corn  land 
we  put  in  terbacker.  Made  enuff  the  fust  year  to  pay  off  the 
morgidge  over  which  the  ole  man  had  groanejd  fer  ten  years; 
an'  the  second  year,  bought  more  land  fer  the  surplus  niggers  to 
till.  An'  so  on,  an'  so  on,  till  now  thar  ain't  another  sich  a 
plantation  in  Boone  county.  An'  my  Sile,  he  kin  hold  up 
his  head  with  the  best  ov  'em;  an'  I'm  goin'  to  hev  what  I 
want  ef  money  kin  buy  it,  an'  I  reckon  'taint  much  that 
money  can't  buy,  an'  what  I  want  I'm  goin'  to  hev,  I  don't 
keer  what  it  costs."  ,l 

"  But  why  did  you  come  to  Kansas?"  asked  Grace,  much 
interested. 

"Wai,  yer  see,  I  didn't  want  Sile  to  come,  in  the  fust 
place.  I  wor  dead  sot  agin  it,  an'  he  wor  dead  for  it,  an'  both 
on  us  strong  in  the  mouth.  «  Marm,'  sez  he,  '  nigh  about  every 
young  feller  in  the  county's  jined,  an'  I'm  bound  fer  to 
jine.'  " 

"Joined  what?"  inquired  Amy. 

"  Why,  the  Blue  Lodge  of  course.  Gen.  Stringman,  an' 
Col.  Delaney,  an'  ole  Dave  Watkins,  an'  Dock  Cornello,  an' 
all  the  rest  o'  them  big  bugs,  came  roun'  down  in  Boone 
county,  makin'  speeches  an'  ropin*  in  all  them  boys,  gittin' 


132  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

them  to  swar  to  drive  all  the  Yankees  out'n  this  hyer  Terri 
tory — writ  it  down  in  their  own  blood  I've  hern  tell,  that  is? 
the  boys  made  their  mark  to  what  them  big  bug  fellers  writ; 
most  on  'em  couldn't  write  theirselves.  But  my  Sile  now,  he's 
got  a  eddication.  He  can  read  an'  write,  an'  cipher  too;  an* 
he  didn't  hev  no  need  o'  thar  whisky,  nor  their  terbacker,  an' 
sez  I — '  Sile,'  sez  I,  '  what  do  you  want  to  be  a  cat's  paw  fer 
them  big  bugs  fer.  It  don't  pay,  sez  I,  when  you  hev  whisky 
o'  yer  own.'  An'  somehow  or  'nuther,  stories  will  fly  so  fast, 
ole  Dave  an'  the  Kernel  heard  on't,  how  dead  sot  I  woz  agin 
it,  an'  how  a  lot  o'  the  boys  sed  they  wa'n't  goin'  over  thar 
without  Sile,  nohow,  an'  ef  you  believe  it!  them  two  ole 
fellars  cum  to  me,  an'  the  Kernel,  he's  as  slick'  an'  as  smooth 
as  a  skinned  pig  like,  an'  his  tongue  runs  as  easy — jest  as  easy 
as  a  steam  saw-mill,  an'  sez  he,  c  Miss  Hardiker,  I'm  sorry  to 
hear  you're  opposed  to  the  best  interests  of  the  country. 
You've  got  slaves,  an'  these  Abolitionists  have  come  down 
here  to  steal  'em  away.  Ef  we  don't  go  over  thar  an'  drive 
'em  out,  or  go  to  the  polls  an'  vote  em  down,  we  shan't  have 
a  nigger  left,  soon.' 

"  'An'  Kernel,'  sez  I,  csposin'  my  Sile  goes  over  thar,  an' 
some  o'  them  Yankees  draws  a  bead  on  him  with  a  Sharp's 
rifle,  what's  the  good  o'  hevin  niggers  then?' 

"  4Oh,  thar's  no  danger  o'  that  mum,'  sez  he,  jest  as  per- 
lite  as  if  I  wor  a  born  lady.  c  I  don't  ask  your  son  to  march 
in  the  rank  an'  file;  what  I  want  o'  him  is  to  go  over  thar,  an' 
kind  o'  hold  the  ground  like,  an'  let  us  know  from  time  to 
time  wot's  goin'  on,  an'  how  the  land  lays.  I  want  him  to 
keep  a  depot  of  supplies,  an'  act  as  jestice  o'  the  peace,  too. 
He's  jest  the  right  temper  for  a  'squire — sort  o'  easy  an'  cool 
like,  an'  he's  got  the  larnin.' 

"'Squire!  Jestice  o'  the  peace!  Jehosaphat!  That  brung 
me  round.  He  must  be  ole  Nick  himself,  I  thought,  or  else 
how'd  he  know  that  wor  my  one  weak  pint?  Ef  I  couldn't 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  133 

be  Miss  'Squire  Hardiker,  I  could  be  'Squire  Hardiker's 
marm.  But  I  didn't  like  to  give  up  too  easy,  an'  so  sez  I: 

"  'You're  quite  sure  they  wont  try  no  Sharp's  rifles  on 
him,  Kernel?' 

"  'Not  a  bit  of  it,'  sez  he,  c  they  aint  got  no  fight  in  'em.' 

"An'  ef  he's  a  'Squire  in  the  Territory  will  he  be  a  'Squire 
in  Missoury?" 

"'Why  certainly,'  sez  he,  larfin;  ' I'm  a  Kernel  in  South 
Carliny,  and  of  course,  I'm  a  Kernel  here,  or  anywhere  in 
the  United  States.'  Sez  he,  '  We  give  those  common  fellers, 
wot  can't  read  or  write,  an'  don't  know  nothin'  about  cipherin' 
a  dollar  a  day,  an'  whisky,  an'  terbacker.  But  your  son, 
madam,  is  a  gentleman,  an'  a  slave  owner,  an'  I  wouldn't 
insult  him  by  offerin'  him  pay  for  pertectin'  his  own  prop 
erty.' 

"  'Wai,'  sez  I,  'you  put  it  mighty  plain  Kernel,  an'  I'm  one,' 
sez  I,  '  as  when  I  see  my  duty  clar,  ain't  a  mite  afeered  o'  doin' 
on  it,  an'  you  jist  make  out  them  papers,  fa'r  an'  squar',  an' 
I'll  be  bound  ef  I  don't  see  as  the  new  Squire  is  sot  up  in  good 
style.' 

" '  Good,'  sez  he,  '  less  shake  hands  on  it,'  holding  out  a 
purty  white  hand  as  never  done  a  day's,  work,  for  my  bony 
fingers,  an'  givin'  ov  'em  a  twist,  an'  a  smilin'.  An'  the 
Kernel  he  kep'  his  word,  an'  I  kep'  mine.  An'  now  he's 
goin'  fur  to  do  more  nor  he  bargained,  fer  Sile's  to  be  a  mem 
ber  o'  the  legislater  after  next  week.  I  guess  some  o'  them 
big-bugs  down  in  Missoury,  as  carried  their  heads  so  high 
over  me,  Ml  be  glad  to  bob  a  little  after  that.  Ef  we've  got 
an  office,  an'  we've  got  niggers,  an'  we've  got  money,  I'd 
like  to  know  what  else  we  need  to  be  on  a  ekality  with  any 
on  'em." 

"  What  indeed  ?"  said  Grace,  whereat  her  mother  shook 
her  head  reprovingly,  saying: 

"But  you  cannot  be  sure  of  that  office,  until  the  election 


134  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

day  is  over.  Mr.  Langtry  is  a  candidate  for  the  same  position, 
and  he  has  a  great  many  friends,  and  you  know  success  de 
pends  upon  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes." 

"  Now  don't  you  believe  it,"  said  Mrs.  Hardiker,  putting 
her  finger  to  her  nose,  tossing  her  head,  and  looking  very 
knowing. 

"  Our  fellers  hain't  a  goin'  to  take  any  sich  chances. 
Them  ole  long-heads  o'  Kernel  Delaney,  an  ole  Dave  Wat- 
kins  kin  fix  up  the  keards  to  win  every  time,  you  kin  bet  your 
eyes  on  that!  I  heerd  the  Kernel  make  a  speech  afore  I 
come  up  hyer  an  'Boys',  sez  he,  ' they've  bin  pourin'  o' 
thar  men  inter  the  Territory  by  hundreds.  Air  you  goin'  to 
set  here  smokin'  your  pipes,  an'  let  'em  beat  you  all  holler? 
No  sir'ee!  you've  got  too  much  grit  for  that.  Most  likely 
they  could  beat  you  on  a  fair  count,  but  in  a  fair  fight,  boys, 
they'd  be  nowhar.  An'  I  tell  you  now,  ef  you  'low  them 
thar  Aberlitionists  to  git  control  o'  this  hyer  legislater,  yer 
gone  up.  Yer  high  an'  dry  on  a  sand-bar,  an'  you 
won't  git  off  till  yer  busted.  This  is  yer  time;  you  go  over 
thar  now,  in  mast,  an'  git  yer  grip  on  the  body  as  makes  the 
laws,  an'  ye  kin  make  the  Territory  too  hot  to  hold  'em. 
Boys,'  sez  he,  kind  o'  smilin'  in  his  pleasant  way,  'that  '11 
be  better'n  shootin'  on  em,  'cause  you'll  have  the  fun  o> 
standin  by,  an'  crowin'  over  'em,  an'  se.ein'  'em  wriggle  under 
pro-slave  laws  as  they  can't  throw  off,  like  a  terbacker  worm 
under  a  hot  coal.'  That's  wot  he  said,  only  I  can't  put  it  into 
big  words  like  his'n. 

"  But  laws  now!  I'm  afeerd  I've  bin  an  tole  some  ov  the 
secrets,"  said  she.  "  Howsumever,  I  never  did  swar  to  keep 
'em.  They  didn't  take  wimmin  folks  in  thar  lodge^  in  a 
reglar  way,  but  Lord!  they  might  as  well,  'cos  we're  bound 
to  find  out  things  anyhow,  an'  now  yer  mind,  I  tell  yer,  an' 
don't  yer  be  skeert,  wen  ye  see  'em  comin'.  They  wont  hurt 
ye,  providin'  yer  quiet  an'  peaceable  like;  they're  jist  comin'  to 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  135 

vote  this  time,  an'  when  they've  voted  they'll  take  theirselves 
offag'in." 

During  the  afternoon  the  usually  clear  sky  had  become 
overcast  with  clouds.  Suddenly  the  wind  blew  in  gusts  from 
the  east,  and  the  lightning  flashed  vividly  portending  a  storm, 
and  just  as  Sile  drew  up  with  his  wagon  at  the  cabin  door  the 
rain  fell  in  torrents. 

At  first  he  stubbornly  refused  to  accept  an  invitation  to 
enter,  but  his  mother  pleaded  "  rheumatiz,"  as  a  reason  for 
waiting  until  the  shower  was  over,  and  he  finally  reluctantly 
consented  to  come  in. 

She  introduced  him  first  to  "  Mis  Aiding,"  and  then  to 
"Mis  Alding's  darter  Grace,"  who,  full  of  fun  and  mischief,  took 
upon  herself  the  onerous  duty  of  entertaining  him,  asking  him 
various  questions,  and  marking  the  height  to  which  the  blood 
suffused  his  cheeks,  and  studying  the  various  motions  of  his 
long,  awkward  limbs,  and  the  twirling  of  his  thumbs,  while 
she  uttered  some  commonplace  remark  and  gazed  at  him 
sweetly  with  her  innocent-looking  eyes,  and  he  vainly  at 
tempted,  through  timidity,  and  the  natural  defect  of  his  organs 
of  speech,  to  reply. 

The  widow  seemed  to  take  in  the  situation  and  enjoy  it 
too,  for  she  leaned  over  to  Amy  with  an  aside: 

"  Hain't  she  got  'im  in  a  tight  box  though?  Mighty  peart 
gal  that  o'  your'n,"  and  then  again,  winking,  "Never  looked 
a  gal  in  the  face  afore!" 

The  fact  is,  he  did  not  look  a  gal  in  the  face  now,  except 
surreptitiously,  and  when  he  thought  she  was  looking  in  an 
other  direction,  and  the  little  witch  observing  this,  forthwith 
managed  to  look  away  frequently,  thus  attracting  his  gaze, 
that  she  might  suddenly  flash  the  light  of  her  pretty  brown 
eyes  full  upon  him,  bringing  the  color  to  his  sallow  face,  and 
turning  his  attention  to  the  lines  in  the  carpet. 

The  widow  evidently  looked  upon  this  little  episode  as  a 


136  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

piece  of  educational  discipline,  which  was  good  for  her  son, 
regarding  it  in  much  the  same  light  as  the  nauseous  doses  for 
the  benefit  of  his  inner  man,  which  many  a  time  she  had  her 
self  administered  with  resolute  hand,  yet,  when  it  became 
positively  painful,  her  motherly  instinct  was  roused  within 
her,  and  quick  to  devise  relief. 

"  Show  the  Squire  all  them  thar  fine  picters  o'  your'n, 
Miss  Grace.  He  war  allers  mighty  fond  o'  picters,  used 
to  put  out  his  hands  an'  cry  fur  'em  on  the  circus  bills  afore 
he  could  talk." 

And  Grace  brought  forth  her  portfolio  of  drawings  again, 
which  seemed  to  make  things  move  easier  for  the  Squire.  He 
looked  on  admiringly  while  his  mother  explained  them  to 
him  one  after  another,  with  a  wonderfully  accurate  memory. 

By  the  time  the  shower  had  ceased,  Sile  sat  quite  easy  in 
his  chair,  taking  in  the  new  sensation  of  neat  surroundings, 
and  the  company  of  ladies,  with  a  feeling  somewhat  akin  to 
pleasure,  though  many  degrees  removed  from  ease. 

When  they  came  to  leave,  the  widow  freely  expressed  her 
enjoyment  of  the  day,  and  added  benignantly: 

"  You'uns  !  .iln't  a  bit  stuck  up,  nor  nothin',  though  I  'low 
to  believe  you  could  hold  your  own  with  the  biggest  bugs  in 
Missoury,"  but  when  she  invited  them  to  visit  her  in  return, 
Sile  shook  his  head  saying:  "  N-n-not  yit,  marm,  g-g-git 
yer  cabin  fixed  up  fust,"  to  which  she  replied:  "Wai,  that's 
so,  we  kin  an'  we  will." 

Mrs.  Alden  bade  them  come  again,  and  not  wait  for  her 
to  return  the  call,  then  Sile  picked  the  little  woman  up  and 
lifted  her  to  her  seat  in  the  wagon,  and  jumping  in  beside 
her,  drove  off  to  Calhoun. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

ELECTION    DAY LANGTRY    IN    DANGER. 

Edward  Langtry  had  received  the  nomination  for  member 
of  the  first  Territorial  Legislature,  with  feelings  of  gratification 
mingled  with  a  sense  of  deep  responsibility.  He  represented 
the  most  radical  faction  of  the  Free  State  men,  and  had  never 
disguised  or  concealed  his  sentiments,  but  with  his  strict  ideas 
of  the  duty  of  a  representative,  to  represent  his  constituency } 
he  deemed  it  necessary  to  declare  anew  that  he  believed  the 
object  for  which  they  were  then  working,  namely,  the  admis 
sion  of  Kansas  to  the  Union  as  a  free  State,  was  but  a  step 
toward  the  consummation  of  the  grandest  event  of  the  day 
and  generation,  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves. 

He  declared  himself  to  be  a  member  of  that  party  which 
contended  against  slavery,  not  only  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
Constitution,  but  within  those  limits.  He  believed  in  agita 
tion — agitation  as  the  very  breath  of  the  Republic,  as  neces 
sary  to  its  vigor  and  purity,  as  are  the  winds  of  heaven  to 
a  vital  atmospheric  condition. 

Though  gratified  beyond  measure  that  his  friends  and 
neighbors  had  selected  him  as  their  standard-bearer  in  the 
coming  contest,  he  could  not  receive  the  banner  without 
the  privilege  of  bearing  it  in  the  van,  and  he  scorned  to 
accept  a  position,  however  honorable,  which  would  restrict 
his  freedom  of  speech  and  action.  Then,  with  an  eloquence 
born  of  deep  devotion  to  a  sacred  cause,  he  painted  a  pic 
ture  of  the  degradation,  moral  and  physical,  not  only  of  the 
slaves,  but  of  the  poor  whites,  contrasting  their  condition  with 

'37 


138  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

that  of  the  Northern  laborer — heir  to  the  free  schools,  free 
press,  and  free  speech  of  the  North,  and  pointed  in  illustration 
to  the  settlements  on  either  side,  and  the  justice  of  the 
comments  and  the  faithfulness  of  the  portraiture  could  not 
be  disputed,  with  ocular  demonstration  thus  before  them. 

He  was  loudly  cheered  on  the  conclusion  of  this  decla 
ration  of  sentiments,  and  the  nomination  was  confirmed,  his 
constituency  assuring  him  that  they  would  trust  his  judgment 
not  to  hazard  a  present  good  by  ill-timed  efforts  to  secure 
that  which  he  himself  held  to  be  attainable  only  by  slow 
steps,  and  sure. 

They  then  made  out  a  list  of  all  the  voters  in  the  Walnut 
Grove  district,  classifying  them  as  Free  State,  and  pro-slave, 
and  the  summing  up  gave  assurance  of  victory,  though  the 
contest  would  be  closer  than  in  other  districts  west  of  the 
border  tier,  and  it  was  necessary  that  their  full  strength 
should  be  brought  out. 

Walnut  Grove  Colony,  which  extended  along  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  Areposa  for  several  miles,  with  a  few  settlements 
on  the  opposite  side,  to  the  south  of  the  ford,  numbered,  all 
told,  ninety-eight  voters,  while  the  village  of  Calhoun  and  the 
surrounding  claims  occupied  by  pro-slavery  men  numbered 
thirty-six,  Charleston,  fifty,  making  a  majority  of  twelve  only, 
providing  every  Northern  man  voted,  and  voted  the  Free 
State  ticket. 

Their  sympathies  were  all  with  Langtry  at  this  time,  but, 
in  the  two  weeks  following  the  nomination  and  preceding 
the  election,  they  were  visited  privately  by  a  number  of  lead 
ing  pro-slavery  men  from  other  points,  who  urged  the  neces 
sity  of  preserving  the  peace  by  voting  for  the  pro-slavery 
candidate,  or  by  staying  away  from  the  polls,  declaring  that 
the  opposite  course  would  bring  destruction  upon  them  from 
Missouri.  Among  these  men  was  Major  Jenkins,  who 
worked  hard  to  awaken  a  prejudice  against  Langtry,  by  call- 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  139 

ing  him  a  woolly-headed  Abolitionist,  accusing  him  of  stealing 
slaves,  and  urging,  that,  to  follow  his  counsels,  would  deluge 
the  land  with  blood,  and  perhaps  rend  the  Union  itself,  in 
twain. 

Langtry,  however,  patiently  followed  in  his  track,  com 
bating  all  his  arguments,  and  portraying  clearly  the  danger 
of  electing  a  pro-slavery  man  to  this  first  Assembly,  which 
must  adopt  a  code  of  laws,  either  in  accordance  with,  or  in 
opposition  to,  the  principles  of  freedom  and  justice.  Then, 
putting  abstract  arguments  aside,  he  labored  to  convince  each 
one,  that  to  allow  the  introduction  of  slavery  was  inimical  to 
his  interests.  Slaveholders  must  necessarily  buy  up  the  land 
in  large  tracts,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  poor  man  who  only 
desires  a  homestead ;  the  introduction  of  slave-labor  invariably 
tends  to  lower  the  wages  and  degrade  the  status  of  the  work 
ing  man,  and  so  on,  with  all  the  arguments  which  we,  who 
have  lived  through  the  great  contest,  have  learned  so  famil 
iarly  ;  and  so  convincing  was  his  logic,  that  at  a  full  meeting 
held  three  days  before  the  election,  every  man  announced  his 
intention  to  stand  by  the  Free  State  candidate,  and  to  be  on 
hand  to  deposit  his  ballot. 

Then,  just  at  the  last  moment,  canie  confirmation  of  the 
truth  of  the  information  given  by  the  widow  Hardiker.  A 
deep  laid  scheme  was  on  foot  to  carry  the  election,  despite  the 
will  of  the  majority  of  legal  voters.  Disappointed  in  their 
attempts  to  drive  out  the  Free  State  men,  and  failing  in  their 
efforts  to  compete  with  the  North  in  colonization,  they  had 
devised  another  scheme,  astounding  in  its  audacity,  and  capable 
of  being  conceived  and  carried  into  execution  only  by  those  in 
whom  zeal  for  the  perpetuation  of  a  pet  institution  had  outrun 
discretion. 

For  some  months  they  had  been  organizing  and  enlisting 
men  in  the  western  counties  of  Missouri  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  possession  of  the  polls  on  election  day,  with  the  object  of 


14°  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

securing  a  Legislature,  which  should  carry  out  their  purposes, 
and,  with  executive  officers  already  appointed,  who  were  in 
entire  sympathy  with  their  design,  their  victory  would  be 
complete.  In  securing  their  migratory  voters,  they  used  all 
the  tact  of  old  politicians,  seeming  to  understand  by  intuition 
the  inducement  necessary  in  each  case,  whether  it  was  the 
promise  of  unlimited  whiskey,  a  dollar  a  day,  a  petty  office, 
or  merely  a  little  palaver. 

By  adroit  speeches  too,  they  raised  the  enthusiasm  of  their 
dupes  to  such  a  pitch,  that  many  of  them  were  really  per 
suaded  in  their  own  minds,  that  it  was  a  patriotic  and  praise 
worthy  undertaking. 

By  sending  out  small  colonies  to  settle  near  Free  State 
settlements,  they  were  kept  well  informed  of  all  their  move 
ments,  and  of  the  number  of  voters  necessary  to  carry  the 
election  in  each  particular  precinct;  and  at  all  these  points, 
depots  of  provisions  were  established.  Thus  systematically 
did  they  proceed  to  defeat  the  provisions  of  the  organic  act. 
All  who  found  it  impossible  to  go  on  this  expedition,  were 
urged  to  show  their  patriotism  by  contributions  of  provisions 
and  money,  and  such  was  the  force  of  pro-slavery  sentiment 
in  western  districts  of  Missouri,  that  no  one  dare  refuse. 
Those  who  came,  were,  consequently,  well  provided  for  and 
in  high  spirits,  considering  the  event  in  the  light  of  a  "  lark." 
Their  leaders  were  men  belonging  to  what  might  be  called 
superior  classes,  though  the  subdivisions  were  commanded  by 
men  of  their  own  ilk,  distinguished  above  their  fellows  by 
reason  of  their  superior  zeal  and  prowess,  hence  Zeke  Fagin 
once  more  rode  at  the  head  of  his  men,  swelling  with  a  con 
sciousness  of  his  own  greatness. 

A  large  division  of  these  invaders  passed  Alden's  house 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  2pth  of  March,  an  advance-guard  of 
three  hundred  horsemen,  followed  by  one  hundred  wagons, 
containing  at  least  one  thousand  men,  a  nondescript  set  of 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  141 

fellows,  "  armed  to  the  teeth,"  with  pistols,  bowie  knives  and 
guns,  dressed  in  every  variety  of  their  native  costume,  flannel 
shirts,  and  pants  in  boots,  with  hat  of  felt  or  fur,  from  beneath 
which  flowed  long  hair,  unshorn,  and  in  some  degree 
unkempt,  snaky-looking  eyes  of  every  hue;  the  only  unvary 
ing  point  of  resemblance,  a  certain  expression  of  countenance, 
indicating  a  lack  of  culture  of  the  higher  faculties  and 
emotions. 

As  on  a  former  occasion,  they  were  provided  with  banners, 
whose  mottoes:  "War  to  the  death!"  "Knife  to  the  hilt!" 
"  Death  to  the  white-livered  Abolitionists,"  fitly  expressed  the 
sentiments  of  the  members  of  the  procession. 

Here  and  there  an  inverted  whiskey  bottle  crowned  the 
pole  of  some  particularly  aggressive  banner,  and  streamers  of 
hemp  waved  suggestively  in  the  air.  A  white  ribbon  had 
been  adopted  as  a  distinctive  badge  of  membership  by  that 
powerful  secret  society,  the  "  Blue  Lodge,"  and  every  man  in 
this  procession,  which  wound  its  slow  length  along  toward 
Calhoun,  wore  it  proudly  on  his  bosom. 

At  Calhoun  they  halted,  three  hundred  of  them  going  in 
to  camp  for  the  night,  and  the  remainder,  after  replenishing 
their  exhausted  jugs,  whose  emptiness  made  plain  the  reason 
of  the  unusual  silence  and  dignity  with  which  they  pursued 
their  course,  continued  on  to  Warsaw,  where  they  encamped, 
as  on  a  former  occasion,  beyond  the  ravine  to  the  north  of 
the  town. 

The  voting  place  for  Walnut  Grove  district  was  Calhoun, 
and  Harley,  John  Alden  and  Arthur  Fairchild  had  been 
appointed  judges  of  the  election.  At  a  meeting  hastily  called, 
and  held  at  Alden's  house,  after  the  procession  from  Missouri 
had  moved  on  beyond  the  creek,  there  were  many  indications 
of  a  desire  to  avoid  a  conflict,  many  Free  State  men  being  in 
favor  of  abandoning  the  attempt  to  vote.  But  Arthur  and 
Alden  assured  them  that  they  meant  to  take  their  places  at 


I42  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

the  polls,  and  enforce  the  law,  which  required  that  every 
voter  should  make  oath  that  he  was  a  resident  of  the  Terri 
tory.  This  would,  of  course,  rule  out  the  invaders,  and  they 
urged  e very  settler  by  all  means  to  come  up  bravely  and 
deposit  his  ballot,  after  the  judges  had  thus  borne  the  brunt  of 
the  battle.  They  all  finally  promised  to  do  so,  and  it  was  re 
solved  to  proceed  to  the  polls  in  a  body  for  the  sake  of  mutual 
protection. 

Accordingly  they  were  assembled  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  30th,  at  the  house  nearest  the  ford,  but  to  Alden's  dis 
may  only  eighty  men  presented  themselves;  and  after  waiting 
as  long  as  possible  for  the  others,  the  eighty  resolved  to  go  on 
and  do  their  duty,  though  defeat  stared  them  in  the  face,  even 
should  only  legal  votes  be  cast.  Of  this  fact  their  opponents 
did  not  seem  aware.  They  had  come  to  vote  for  their  old 
crony,  Sile  Hardiker,  at  the  bidding  of  their  superiors,  and 
they  meant  to  do  so,  whether  such  illegal  act  were  necessary 
to  the  end  desired,  or  otherwise. 

The  polls  were  held  in  a  small  frame  cabin  used  by  the 
Squire  as  an  office,  and  which  stood  on  the  open  prairie  at 
some  distance  from  his  residence,  the  grocery,  and  the  other 
shanties  which  composed  the  town,  and  leaving  their  horses 
in  the  timber,  the  Free  State  men  bent  their  steps  thither 
ward. 

The  Squire  himself  recognized  Arthur,  Harley  and  Alden 
as  the  judges  appointed,  and  opening  the  door,  allowed  them 
to  pass  in  with  a  much  more  friendly  "  H-h-how,"  for  the 
latter  than  he  had  hitherto  vouchsafed. 

They  found  chairs  and  a  rough  table  provided,  also  a  bal 
lot  box  and  poll  books,  which  they  took  possession  of,  and 
prepared  for  use.  They  closed  the  door  and  locked  it  to  pre 
vent  intrusion,  and  then  removed  a  pane  of  glass  from  the 
window,  that  the  ballots  might  be  deposited  in  the  box 
through  the  aperture.  Their  friends  outside  now  began  to 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  143 

come  up,  and  Arthur  administered  the  oath  of  residence,  after 
which  they  deposited  their  ballots,  and  moved  off.  They  had 
received  some  fifteen  or  twenty  ballots,  including  their  own, 
when  a  band  of  Missourians,  headed  by  £eke  Fagin,  moved 
up  to  the  window,  thrusting  aside  the  Free  State  men  who 
stood  near,  and  offering  their  ballots,  which  had  been  printed 
in  Missouri.  Of  course  the  judges  refused  to  receive  them, 
unless  they  could  take  the  oath  of  residence.  Zeke  then  ap 
pealed  to  the  crowd,  saving : 

'Boys,  we  hev  come  here  to  vote.  We  hev  sworn  to 
vote,  an'  better  men  than  these  hyer  dog-goned  Abolitionists 
hev  told  us  that  we  hev  a  right  to  vote  ef  we  hev  bin  in  the 
Territory  five  minutes.  The  very  fact  of  our  tendin'  these 
hyer  polls,  shows  that  ef  not  actooal  residents,  we  hev  a 
sneakin'  notion  of  bein'  sich,  some  o'  these  hyer  days.  What 
air  yer  goin'  to  do  about  it?"  'Low  these  hyer  low-lived 
cusses  to  back  yer  down,  or  jump  'em  up  yerselves?" 

His  men,  who  had  all  gathered  about  the  little  building, 
cheered  this  speech  loudly,  and  cries  of: 

"Make  'em  resign."  "Make  'em  resign."  "Put  in 
judges  that  will  receive  our  votes,"  resounded  with  sufficient 
unanimity  to  indicate  that  they  had  been  instructed  in  their 
parts  beforehand,  and  Zeke,  turning  tb  the  judges,  continued: 

"  Do  yer  hear  that?  them  air  our  instructions,  and,  by  G d9 

we  mean  to  kerry  them  out,  and  will  ye  step  down  now 
peaceable  like,  or  shel  we  hev  the  pleasure  of  assistin'  yer?'' 
an  attempt  at  pleasantry  which  brought  cheers  from  his 
supporters. 

The  judges  resolutely  declined  to  be  relieved  of  their 
duties,  and  then  there  was  a  rush  at  the  window  .which  came 
in,  sash  and  all,  and  lay  in  pieces  upon  the  floor,  and  a  half 
dozen  guns  were  pointed  at  them  through  the  opening.  Then 
the  building  began  to  tilt,  and  rock  from  side  to  side,  as  if  they 
had  roused  a  small  earthquake.  A  number  of  Zeke's  men  had 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  145 

placed  a  pry  under  one  corner  of  the  cabin,  and  it  would  soon 
have  been  a  wreck,  but  for  Sile  Hardik«^s  presence  within. 
He  called  out  vehemently  for  them  to  desist,  lest  he  himself 
should  be  injured,  and  for  this  reason  also,  the  men  at  the 
window  restrained  their  shots. 

Zeke  gave  the  judges  still  another  opportunity  to  resign. 
When  his  men,  swearing  and  blustering,  had  burst  in  the 
door,  and  stood  with  knives  drawn  and  pistols  cocked,  de 
manding  that  these  men  receive  their  votes  or  resign,  he  took 
out  his  watch  and  arrogantly  announced,  that  they  had  "  five 
minutes  to  decide." 

Arthur  and  Alden  were  silent,  but  Harley  yielded,  whereat 
the  crowd  cheered  lustily,  and  Zeke  announced: 

"  Only  three  minutes  to  decide." 

"Good  Heavens!  Alden,"  said  Harley,  "  you  fellows  are 
foolhardy.  How  can  you  expect  to  stand  up  against  this  mob? 
Give  in  now,  and  then  protest  against  the  whole  thing 
afterward." 

"Never!"  said  Alden  firmly. 

" Never,"  said  Arthur,  "will  I  willingly  see  the  ballot 
box  degraded !"  tt 

"  Two  minutes  more  in  which  to  decide,"  said  Zeke, 
pompously. 

There  was  a  dead  silence  in  the  room,  save  for  the  beating 
hearts  which  measured  time,  the  ticking  of  the  watch, 
and  the  occasional  clicking  of  a  pistol  as  it  was  cocked 
and  deliberately  aimed  at  their  heads.  Harley  sat  in  despair, 
looking  from  his  friends  to  the  resolute  face  of  Zeke,  and  then 
toward  his  creatures,  upon  whose  countenances  no  lineaments 
of  compassion  stood  revealed  in  the  broad  sunshine  which 
came  through  the  open  door  and  window.  All  at  once,  a 
bright  inspiration  seized  him.  An  involuntary  smile  spread 
over  his  face,  and  just  as  Zeke  announced,  "  One  minute  more 
to  decide,"  he  seized  the  ballot  box,  and  sprang  toward  the 
9 


146  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

door,  the  movement  of  a  single  man  having  left  the  pathway 
clear,  and  suggested  the  idea.  He  swung  the  box  over  his 
head,  and  shouted:  "Hurrah  for  Missoury."  Involun 
tarily  the  crowd  followed  him,  and  attention  was  thus  directed 
from  the  others  for  a  moment,  during  which  Long  Sile 
picked  Alden  up  in  his  powerful  arms  as  if  he  had  been  a 
child,  and  depositing  him  outside  in  the  midst  of  a  circle  of 
his  own  friends,  ejaculated;  "  T-t-t-take  this  hyer  f-feller 
home." 

Arthur  being  thus  left  behind,  grasped  the  poll  books  and 
some  papers  which  lay  on  the  table,  putting  the  former  under 
his  coat,  and  with  the  latter  in  his  hands,  started  for  the  door, 
followed  by  Zeke,  who  snatched  the  papers  from  him,  allow 
ing  him  to  pass  out.  Anxious  to  retain  the  books,  Arthur 
made  for  the  creek  near  which  the  horses  were  tied;  but  Zeke 
had  already  discovered  that  the  papers  were  valueless,  and 
that  the  poll  books  were  gone,  and  went  tearing  after  him, 
followed  by  twenty  or  thirty  of  his  men,  all  swearing  in 
chorus.  Of  course  they  overtook  and  overpowered  him, 
carrying  back  the  books  in  triumph,  and  re-opening  the  polls. 
Harley  consented  to  act  with  judges  of  their  own  selection, 
who  received  their  votes  without  the  unnecessary  formality  of 
an  oath,  thus  electing  Silas  Hardiker,  by  a  majority  of  three 
hundred  and  eighty  pro-slavery  votes,  against  twenty  Free 
State  votes  cast  for  Edward  Langtry,  the  latter  being  the 
number  cast  early  in  the  morning,  no  Free  State  men  being 
allowed  even  to  approach  the  window,  after  they  had  taken 
possession. 

In  justice  to  Harley,  it  must  be  stated  that  he  refused  to 
sign  the  returns,  until  the  words,  "  By  lawful  resident  voters," 
were  stricken  out,  which  was  done,  and  the  returns  made  in 
that  way. 

Immediately  after  their  ejection,  the  Free  State  men 
began  to  return  to  their  homes.  There  was  nothing  to  be 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  147 

gained  by  remaining.  Eighty  against  three  hundred  and 
eighty  was  by  far  too  much  odds,  even  if  they  had  been  in 
clined  to  retake  by  violence,  their  position.  Indignant  and 
sore  at  heart,  they  went  their  ways  by  twos  and  threes,  leav 
ing  Langtry  and  Alden  alone  upon  the  grounds,  determined 
to  be  the  last  to  depart. 

They  were  walking  slowly  toward  their  horses,  discussing 
the  form  of  protest  which  they  had  determined  to  file  within  the 
four  days'  time  allotted,  when  suddenly  they  became  aware 
that  their  troubles  were  not  over.  A  party  of  Missourians 
came  yelping  and  hallooing  after  them,  shouting  that  they  were 
wanted  at  the  polls.  Unhesitatingly  they  turned  to  retrace 
their  steps,  thinking,  perhaps,  they  had  determined  on  some 
show  of  fairness,  but  no  sooner  had  they  reached  the  ground 
in  front  of  the  polls,  than  Langtry  was  suddenly  seized  by 
several  strong  men,  one  of  whom  was  Major  Jenkins,  forcibly 
disarmed  and  placed  upon  a  wagon  which  stood  near,  and 
with  pistols  pointing  at  him  from  all  directions,  commanded  to 
make  a  speech. 

"Make  a  speech,  ye  spalpeen!"  called  out  Pat  Malone, 
and  the  whole  crowd,  who  had  by  this  time  taken  consider 
able  "  spirits  "  on  board,  and  were  just  in  the  mood  for  "  a 
little  fun,"  joined  in  the  cry. 

Seemingly  nothing  abashed,  Langtry  looked  calmly  about 
him,  saying : 

"I  perceive  that  I  am  between  Scylla  and  Charybdis." 

"  Hold  on  thar!  don't  call  no  names,"  shouted  several 
voices. 

"  If  I  will  not  speak,  I  am  threatened  with  death,  and  if  I 
do  speak,  and  give  you  my  honest  sentiments,  you  will  cer 
tainly  kill  me.  Is  this  America?  Am  I  beneath  the  stars 
and  stripes?  but,"  pausing  a  moment,  "  I  will  speak,  and  I 
will  tell  you  plainly,  that  you  have  this  day  lighted  the  torch 
which  shall  explode  the  mine  beneath  your  feet.  '  Whom  the 


148  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

gods  would  destroy,  they  first  make  mad.'  For  long,  long 
years,  the  voices  of  three  million  patient  bondsmen  have  pleaded 
for  deliverance,  but  the  recital  of  their  woes  has  fallen  upon 
ears  that  would  not  hear.  Men's  eyes  were  closed  that  they 
might  riot  see,  but  at  last!  at  last!  in  your  mad  zeal  you  have 
struck  a  blow  at  the  most  sacred  right  of  citizens  of  the 
Republic.  You  have  violated  the  law  and  polluted  the  ballot 
box.  To  the  measureless  oppressions  heaped  upon  the  bowed 
head  of  the  black,  you  have  added  invasion  and  overthrow 
of  the  constitutional  rights  of  the  white  man,  and  I  warn  you 
that  the  tempest  of  his  wrath  shall  cease  not  till  we  have  be 
come  a  homogeneous  nation,  till  the  clanking  of  the  chains 
of  no  slave  shall — "  At  this  point  Major  Jenkins  was  no 
longer  able  to  contain  himself,  and  called  out: 

"  Hang  the  d d  nigger  stealer,"  and  in  a  moment  the 

passions  of  the  border  ruffians  were  all  aflame. 

"Cut  his  throat!"  "Tear  his  heart  out!"  "Pull  him  to 
pieces!"  "  Shootin's  too  good  for  him,"  resounded  from  side 
to  side.  "  Bring  on  your  hemp,"  and  dragging  him  from  the 
wagon  they  moved  toward  the  timber,  the  latter  suggestion 
seeming  to  suit  their  fancy.  But  before  this  murderous  design 
could  be  carried  out,  Roderick  Delaney  was  seen  galloping 
toward  them. 

"What  does  this  mean?"  demanded  he.  "  What  has  this 
man  done,  that  you  thus  menace  him?" 

There  was  authority  in  his  tone  before  which  they  fell 
back  in  silence,  and  he  repeated  his  question :  "  Of  what  is 
this  man  guilty?" 

"Flung  his  d d  abolitionist  sentiments  in  our  teeth!" 

cried  a  number  of  assailants. 

"  Stole  my  niggers,''  said  Jenkins. 

Langtry  turned  and  looked  him  full  in  the  face,  his  own 
face  white,  and  his  teeth  set  with  wrath,  as  he  asserted 
positively : 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  149 

"That's  a  lie!" 

"  No  man  mouths  those  words  to  me  and  lives,"  and  the 
Major's  pistol  was  aimed  at  Langtry's  heart. 

He  stood  within  six  feet  of  him,  and  a  moment  more 
would  have  been  his  last,  but  Roderick  Delaney,  with  a  quick 
motion  sent  the  pistol  flying  beyond  the  crowd,  and  the  bullet 
was  discharged  in  the  air,  then  turning  to  the  assembly,  who 
watched  his  every  move  intently,  doggedly,  but  without 
daring  to  oppose  him,  he  said: 

"  If  I  read  correctly  the  orders  of  the  right  worthy  pres 
ident  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  they  were  to  take  possession  of  the 
polls  and  vote  for  the  candidate  selected,  avoiding  all  conflict. 
There  must  be  no  bloodshed.  Release  the  man." 

Instantly  they  released  their  hold  on  Langtry,  and  turned 
away,  Jenkins  muttering  to  himself  of  vengeance, — the 
others  resorting  to  the  consolatory  influences  6f  the  jug. 

Langtry  thanked  Roderick  for  this  interference  in  his  be 
half,  but  the  latter  waved  his  hand  lightly,  saying:  "I  did 
but  carry  out  my  orders,"  then  turning  to  Alden,  he  said: 

"  Mr.  Alden,  I  hope  you  will  believe  me  when  I  say  that 
I  do  not  approve  of  this  sort  of  thing,"  and  Langtry  and 
Alden  mounted  their  horses  which  were  near,  and  turned  their 
heads  toward  home.  Rejoined  them,  continuing: 

**  I  am  in  favor  of  straining  every  nerve  to  beat  you 
honestly  and  fairly." 

u  And  do  you  call  this  fair  play,"  said  Alden,  "  bringing 
men  from  another  State  to  take  possession  of  the  polls  and 
drive  away  legal  voters?" 

"  I  must  say  that  I  cannot  fully  justify  it,  and  yet  many  of 
our  leading  men  do,  on  the  ground  that  it  is  impossible  for  us 
to  bring  in  actual  settlers  as  fast  as  you  can,  and  we  must 
therefore  send  in  these  fellows,  as  a  sort  of  advance-guard  to 
hold  the  country  until  tliev  can  come  up,  and  to  make  such 
laws  as  shall  protect  their  property  when  it  is  brought  in. 


15°  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  Why,"  said  he,  continuing,  «  to  the  Northwestern 
farmer  it  is  a  small  matter  to  put  his  household  goods  and 
family  into  a  wagon,  and  migrate  westward  in  search  of 
broader  fields  and  richer  harvests.  The  annual  flow  of  this 
stream  of  immigration  has  been  estimated  at  from  two  thou 
sand  to  three  thousand  souls.  To  the  Southerner,  on  the 
other  hand,  immigration  means  slow  steps,  attended  with  great 
expense  in  the  removal  of  cumbersome  machinery  and  a 
stock  of  slaves,  and  the  introduction  of  a  system  ill  adapted 
to  the  necessities  of  a  new  settlement." 

'•  And  why,  then,  make  such  an  effort  to  introduce  the 
institution  into  this  Territory,  for  which  it  is  so  poorly  fitted, 
and  which  was  once  held  sacred  to  free  institutions?  " 

"  I  will  tell  you,"  said  he,  «  and  I  will  tell  you  also,  why 
you  Northerners  had  better  give  it  up  peaceably,  and  retire  to 
Nebraska." 

Langtry  had  hitherto  taken  no  part  in  the  conversation, 
lagging  behind  a  little,  and  listening  in  silence;  but  he  now 
came  up  beside  them,  and  said  rather  scornfully: 

"  Humph,  indeed!  and  why?     Please  enlighten  us." 

« As  to  the  first,"  said  Roderick,  quite  unmindful'  of 
Langtry's  tone,  "  it  is  a  political  as  well  as  a  national  neces 
sity.  We  must  extend  our  territory  that  we  may  keep  pace 
with  the  North  in  representation,  and  maintain  our  status  in 
the  general  government.  Then  we  must  find  in  the  newly- 
settled  Territories  a  market  for  our  slaves,  which  are  increasing 
in  numbers  every  year.  Missouri  alone  has  fifty  thousand  in 
that  portion  of  her  territory  nearest  Kansas.  By  estimating 
the  average  value  of  those  slaves  at  six  hundred  dollars  each,  a 
very  low  figure,  we  have  a  sum  total  of  thirty  millions;  a 
pretty  little  sum  worth  looking  after.  Now,  should  Kansas 
become  a  free  State,  it  would  be  simply  ruinous  to  the  slave- 
holding  interest  of  Missouri.  The  negroes  have  already,  in 
numerous  instances,  been  tampered  with,  and  run  off  by 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  15! 

Abolitionists  in  the  Territory;  and  such  acts,  with  the  stern 
retaliation  which  they  must  necessarily  call  forth,  are  calcu 
lated  to  produce  a  deadly  feud  between  the  Free  State  and 
pro-slave  sections,  which  will  deluge  the  land  with  blood, 
and  perhaps  rend  the  Union  itself." 

tc  And  I  tell  you,"  said  Langtry  solemnly,  "  that  this  nation 
cannot  pause  in  the  presence  of  this  great  moral  question, 
which  is  being  pressed  upon  her  for  decision,  to  consult  her 
safety.  Safety  never  lies  in  the  path  of  injustice.  Justice, 
and  not  safety,  should  be  the  end  of  government.  You  of 
the  South  are  impotent  to  turn  back  the  advancing  tide  of 
civilization.  It  has  swept  on  north  of  you,  and  west  of  you, 
prevented  only  by  the  barriers  raised  by  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  from  rushing  in  upon  you.  And  I  tell  you 
that,  on  the  day  when  your  rash  hands  shall  tear  down  that 
bulwark,  a  tumultuous  wave  of  freedom  shall  bear  down 
upon  the  South,  and  carry  off  upon  its  triumphant  crest  every 
fetter.  The  spirit  of  freedom  is  in  the  air,  it  is  around  and 
above  you,  while  beneath  is  a  slumbering  volcano,  in  which 
is  treasured  up  the  seething  wrath  generated  by  long  years 
of  oppression  and  wrong,  and  which  ere  long,  will  turn  its 
fury  upon  the  South,  and  scatter  its  social  fabric  to  the  four 
winds  of  heaven.  A  strict  espionage  over,  and  systematic 
repression  of,  the  slave  at  present,  subdues  every  appearance 
of  insubordination." 

"  Oh,  you  mistake  us  entirely.  Our  slaves  are  our  best 
friends.  Thev  are  happy  and  comfortable,  with  plenty  to  eat, 
and  no  care  for  the  future.  Now,  my  man  CaBsar  was  asked  a 
short  time  ago,  by  a  meddlesome  Free  State  man,  if  he  did 
not  wish  to  be  free,  and  his  answer  was,  "  Why,  de  Lord 
bless  you,  massa,  no.  Slavery  might  be  bad  for  white  man, 
but  it's  good  enough  for  niggas." 

"You  were  present  at  the  time?" 

«  Yes." 


I52  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  And  other  pro-slavery  friends?" 

"Yes;  a  half  dozen  of  us,  and  we  got  the  laugh  on  the 
meddlesome  Northerner." 

"  But  your  negro's  testimony  was  worth  just  nothing  at 
all.  Do  you  suppose  he  would  have  dared  speak  the  truth 
before  you,  his  master,  when  experience  had  taught  him  that 
the  master  is  stern,  strong,  and  relentless, — that  the  punish 
ment  for  insubordination,  however  slight,  is  cruel  and  barba 
rous,  extending  at  times  even  to  the  taking  of  life?" 

"  Do  you  mean  to  insinuate,  sir,  that  I  am  an  inhuman 
and  barbarous  master?"  said  Roderick, with  the  Southern  fire 
in  his  eye. 

"  I  insinuate  nothing  personal,"  said  the  other.  «  It  is  of 
the  system  I  complain.  That  system  which  has  induced  in 
the  negro  the  broken  submission  of  despair,  and  in  the  white 
race  a  domineering  spirit,  a  proneness  to  violence,  and  a  dis 
trust  or  habitual  forgetfulness  of  law,  and  of  civilized  customs 
under  exciting  circumstances." 

"  You  are  hard  upon  us,  Mr. —  ?  " 

"  Langtry,"  suggested  John,  remembering  that  the  young 
Southerner  had  not  yet  learned  the  name  of  the  man  whose 
life  he  had  saved,  and  who  continued:  "And  herein  lies  the 
danger  in  the  conflict  that  must  ensue.  We,  of  the  North, 
are  a  law-abiding  people,  and  we  have  great  respect  for  the 
sacred  ness  of  human  life.  We  shall  never  be  the  aggress 
ors,  but  we  hold  in  reserve  the  right  of  self-defence,  only 
to  be  exercised  in  the  supreme  moment  when  it  shall  be 
necessary  to  preserve  our  lives  and  property  from  de 
struction." 

At  this  point  in  the  discussion  Langtry  was  obliged  to 
turn  off  in  the  direction  of  his  own  home,  and  it  was  well,  for 
both  were  becoming  more  excited  everv  moment,  and  it 
would  have  been  a  difficult  matter  for  them  to  preserve 
much  longer  the  appearance  of  calmness. 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN  1 53 

As  he  disappeared  in  the  distance,  Roderick  turned  to 
John  Alden  with  a  smile. 

"  I  have  not  yet  inquired  after  the  health  of  Mrs.  Alden 
and  your  daughter  ?  " 

"  They  are  both  quite  well,  and  would  no  doubt  be  happy 
to  have  a  call  from  you." 

"  I  was  about  to  ask  your  permission  to  call ;  I  have  many 
messages  from  my  sister  for  them ; "  then,  as  a  turn  of  the 
road  brought  them  in  sight  of  the  house:  4<I  must  confess 
that  the  claim  of  a  Northern  man  may  be  recognized  at  a 
glance  by  its  neat  surroundings.  I  hope  the  example  will  in 
cite  some  of  our  poor  fellows  to  do  likewise.  Believe  me,  I 
had  a  philanthropic,  as  well  as  a  selfish,  design  at  heart  when 
I  induced  the  men  of  my  colony  to  come  here.  In  the  South 
there  Was  no  hope  for  them;  land  was  high  and  labor  de 
grading,  but  by  coming  here,  at  least  they  can  have  what 
they  call  a  *  white  man's  chance.'  " 

"And  yet  you  would  have  them  vote  to  inflict  the  same  de 
grading  system  on  this  new  Territory,  and  thus  rob  themselves 
of  that  chance  ?  " 

He  put  out  his  hand  deprecatingly :  "No  more  argument 
just  now  please,  Mr.  Alden,"  and  they  rode  in  silence  to  the 
cabin  door. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

RODERICK    AT    THE  CABIN POLITICAL  GATHERING AGNES 

AND    AMY. 

Under  other  circumstances  John  Alden  would  not  have 
given  Roderick  Delaney  an  invitation  to  his  home — loyalty 
to  Arthur  and  his  intense  interest  in  Arthur's  suit  with  Grace 
forbade  a  warm  reception  to  one  who  might  prove  a 
dangerous  rival,  even  had  he  not  conceived  a  prejudice 
against  the  young  man  on  account  of  his  Southern  birth.  He 
knew  that  letters  had  been  exchanged  between  Grace  and 
Mabel  Delaney,  and  that  Amy  expected  Mr.  Delaney  would 
call  when  business  brought  him  to  Charleston,  but  it  was  ex 
ceedingly  distasteful  to  John  that  the  visit  should  be  made  on 
his  own  invitation.  But  the  young  man's  gallant  conduct 
of  the  morning  toward  his  friend  Langtry  called  for  at  least 
politeness  in  return,  so  John  yielded  gracefully  to  the  in 
evitable.  He  threw  open  the  cabin-door,  and  then  paused,  to 
allow  his  guest  to  enter  first.  Amy  was  near  the  open  fire 
place,  intent  on  the  preparation  of  dinner.  She  wore  a  large 
gingham  apron  over  her  dark  dress,  and  her  face  was  somewhat 
flushed  with  the  heat,  and  yet  she  came  forward  immediately, 
while  no  shadow  of  false  shame  at  her  appearance  or  occupa 
tion  dimmed  the  hospitable  smile  with  which  she  greeted  her 
guest,  graciously  extending  the  hand  of  welcome.  She  did 
not  hesitate,  either,  to  express  her  joy  at  her  husband's  safe 
return,  while  Grace  and  Arthur  were  exchanging  courtesies 
with  the  visitor. 

The  latter  had  gone  directly  home  after  his  discomfiture  at 

154 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  155 

the  polls,  and  Grace  had  beguiled  him  into  a  game  of  chess, 
in  which  they  had  become  quite  absorbed.  On  Alden  and 
Delaney's  sudden  entrance,  rising  simultaneously,  the  chess 
board,  which  they  had  held  upon  their  knees,  fell  to  the 
floor,  and  the  kings  and  the  queens,  the  knights  and  the 
castles,  as  in  many  a  game  of  life  thus  suddenly  ended,  lay 
ingloriously  mingled  with  the  pawns.  A  flush  of  pleasure 
rose  to  the  cheek  of  Grace  Alden,  and  a  happy  light  was  in 
her  eye,  as  she  extended  the  hand  of  welcome.  But  Arthur's 
face,  and  John  Alden  had  learned  to  read  it  well,  reflected  all 
the  annoyance  he  himself  had  felt,  and  there  was  a  peculiar 
dryness  in  the  tones  of  his  voice  as  he  replied  to  the  familiar 
salutation  of  the  young  Southerner. 

There  was  a  striking  contrast  in  the  personal  appearance 
and  manners  of  these  two  young  men — each  a  fair  type  of 
the  ideas,  as  well  as  the  personnel,  of  the  sect-ion  of  country 
which  he  represented.  The  one,  fair-haired,  blue-eyed,  with 
earnestness  and  devotion  to  principle  visible  in  every  linea 
ment  of  his  countenance,  and  energy,  as  well  as  grace,  in 
every  motion  of  his  slight,  active  form;  the  other,  deliberate 
of  movement,  as  one  for  whom  time  waited,  impulsive  and 
pleasure-loving,  yet  capable  of  being  roused  to  depths  of  feel 
ing,  but,  as  yet,  carefully  choosing  the  smooth  walks  of  life 
and  lingering  in  its  pleasant  vales — dark -eyed  and  raven- 
haired — a  genial  smile  upon  his  handsome  face,  and  an  easy 
dignity  in  the  carriage  of  his  tall,  well-developed  form. 

He  gave  Grace  a  note  from  his  sister,which  she  received  with 
evident  pleasure,  and  asked  permission  to  read  immediately. 

Mrs.  Alden  had  taken  Mr.  Delaney's  hat,  and  John  had 
brought  him  a  chair,  and  then  inquiries  were  in  order  con 
cerning  his  sister,  and  all  smiled  to  hear  that  the  young  lady 
liked  her  new  home  better  than  did  Dinah,  her  negro  maid, 
the  latter  pronouncing  the  invigorating  Kansas  breezes  "  pow 
erful  strong,"  and  singing: 


1$  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

"  Carry  me  back  to  Ole  Virginny,"  with  the  pathos  of* 
true  feeling.  Then,  of  course,  Roderick  wanted  to  know  if 
Amy  and  Grace  were  homesick. 

"  No,  indeed,"  replied  Amy,  "  that  would  be  impossible; 
we  brought  home  with  us." 

"  I  should  certainly  say  you  had,  Madam,"  said  Roderick, 
politely,  taking  in  with  a  comprehensive  glance  all  the 
various  evidences  of  taste  and  culture  which  gave  a  homelike 
appearance  to  the  rudely-constructed,  limited  apartment. 

"Oh,  you  misunderstood  me,"  said  Amy,  apologetically, 
"  I  meant  the  fact  that  we  are  a  united  household,  and  that  we 
brought  the  determination  to  be  content.  «  Home  is  where 
the  heart  is,'  you  know." 

"And  both  were  necessary  to  the  result  which  we  see  be 
fore  us,"  was  the  graceful  reply. 

Grace  here  looked  up  from  her  note  to  say  that  so  far  she 
had  not  yet  exhausted  the  novelties  and  varieties  of  the  situa 
tion.  Perhaps  when  they  began  to  be  an  old  story,  she,  too, 
might  long  to  be  carried  back  to  old  scenes  and  friends. 

"  Never  fear,  my  daughter,"  said  her  father,  "  in  a  coun 
try  filling  up  so  rapidly  with  young  men  as  this  is,  and  with 
such  vast  capabilities  of  development,  you  will  always  find 
new  subjects  of  interest." 

"Now,  papa!"  said  she  blushing,  "you  are  too  bad. 
You  know  I  do  not  care  for — for — 

"  Flirting,"  said  John  ;  "  not  a  bit  of  it." 

"  Dinner  has  been  waiting  for  you  a  long  time,"  inter 
posed  Amy,  "  and  if  you  excuse  me  a  few  moments  it  shall 
be  served  at  once." 

The  table,  which  stood  in  the  center  of  the  room,  was  al 
ready  dressed  with  snowy  cloth  and  necessary  china  and  sil 
ver,  and  soon  an  extra  plate  was  placed  for  the  guest,  the 
substantial  food  transferred  from  its  place  before  the  fire  to 
the  table,  and  all  sat  down  to  partake. 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  157 

Arthur  said  little;  he  was  full  of  the  events  of  the  morning, 
and  could  not  at  once  throw  off  his  feelings  and  enter  into  the 
lighter  themes  to  which  Mr.  Delaney  steered  the  conver 
sation,  avoiding  with  dexterous  skill  the  slightest  allusion  to 
anything  which  could  possibly  bring  up  the  great  question  in 
dispute  between  them.  He  was  an  interesting  talker  and 
could  give  a  tone,  even  to  remarks  on  the  weather,  and  the 
climate  and  soil  of  Kansas,  calculated  to  bring  a  smile  to  one's 
face,  provoking  a  retort  whose  wit  surprised  even  the  one 
who  uttered  it,  and  drawing  out  some  latent  thought  which 
needed  this  vivifying  power  to  bring  it  to  life. 

Grace  thought  Kansas  sunsets  were  magnificent,  and 
Roderick  had  seen  no  fairer  sight  in  foreign  climes,  nor 
limned  by  the  old  masters'  hands,  than  nature  pictured  for  the 
dwellers  on  the  prairie,  on  many  a  summer  eve,  "  when,"  said 
he,  "  the  sky  becomes  a  deep,  dark,  unfathomarble  blue,  and  the 
pillared  clouds  a  mass  of  crimson  and  purple,  fringed  with 
gold,  are  moving  gently  hither  and  thither,  dividing  and  sub 
dividing  into  flakes  of  many  brilliant  hues,  then  modulating 
slowly  into  tints  of  unspeakable  softness,  where,  above  the  bare 
bluffs,  the  horizon  becomes  a  line  of  flame,  gradually  fading 
out  as  the  sun  descends,  and  stars  one  by  one  come  out  in  the 
firmament,  and  day  has  faded  into  night." 

"  There  is  for  me  more  beauty  in  a  noble  human  action, 
than  in  any  combination  of  material  things,"  said  Arthur. 

."Is  there  not  an  intimate  connection  between  the  two?" 
asked  Amy,  "  and  does  not  what  is  common  to  them  both, 
their  perfectness  and  harmony  with  the  divinest  aspirations  of 
the  soul,  constitute  their  beauty  ?" 

"  True,  and  the  embodiment  of  both  is  the  highest  degree 
of  art,"  said  Roderick,  and  then  he  described  some  of  the 
statues,  and  pictures,  and  noticeable  features  of  the  beautiful 
architecture  which  he  had  seen  in  lands  beyond  the  sea, 
intermingling  little  sketches  of  personal  adventure  which 


I5  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

called  forth  the  "  chorus  of  conversation,"  a  hearty  laugh. 
And  ere  long  Alden  found  himself  telling  a  laughable  story 
of  the  mining  camp,  which  had  almost  slipped  his  mind,  and 
in  response  to  hearty  encores,  another,  and  another. 

"  Why,  papa,"  cried  Grace,  «  you  should  have  told  us  all 
these  things  before.  I  supposed  you  experienced  nothing  but 
trouble,  and  hardship  and  sickness  in  California — " 

"  My  dear,"  said  John,  "  there  is  no  sky  so  dark  but  that 
in  it  there  are  some  bright  spots;  all  you  want  is  to  look 
through  a  lens  of  sufficient  magnifying  power  to  disclose 
them." 

It  was  surprising  what  a  variety  of  topics  they  skimmed 
over  in  so  short  a  time,  very  skillfully  and  resolutely  avoid 
ing  the  subject  of  slavery.  Sometimes  it  seemed  from  the 
course  the  conversation  was  taking,  that  the  next  plunge 
would  be  upon  that  rock,  but  somehow  the  pilot  gracefully  and 
gently  gave  it  a  turn  just  at  the  point  of  danger,  and  they 
went  sailing  off  again  into  the  blue  seas  and  sparkling  waters 
of  general  topics  and  personal  experiences.  By  the  time  the 
meal  was  over  and  they  had  risen  from  the  table,  Alden  was 
in  quite  a  genial  frame  of  mind.  For  the  time,  the  fact  that 
his  guest  was  a  Southerner,  and  that  he  had  not  desired  his 
presence,  had  faded  from  his  thoughts,  and  he  gave  himself 
up  unreservedly  to  the  charm  of  Roderick's  society. 

As  they  rose,  Delaney  drew  out  a  cigar  case  and  proposed 
that  they  should  seek  some  place  outside  and  indulge  in  a 
little  smoke.  Of  course  that  suited  John,  but  Arthur  de 
clined — he  did  not  smoke — and  he  was  going  down  to  War 
saw  to  learn  how  the  election  was  passing  off  there. 

Amy  begged  him  to  give  up  the  idea,  lest  he  should  incur 
some  danger,  and  turned  to  Grace  to  add  her  solicitations,  but 
Grace  had  stepped  to  the  book-shelf  with  Roderick,  and  they 
were  intently  examining  a  plate  in  a  book  of  engravings,  and 
she  did  not  hear.  Arthur  had  seen  the  motion  and  his  eye 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  159 

rested  for  a  moment  on  the  pair,  then  laughing  at  the  idea  of 
danger,  he  departed. 

Alden  led  the  way  to  a  seat  outside,  on  the  east  of  the 
cabin,  where  they  could  be  shaded  from  the  rays  of  the  declin 
ing  sun,  and  here  with  the  broad,  undulating  prairie  stretching 
to  the  right  and  left  of  them,  and  beyond  the  cabin  the  waving 
line  of  the  little  creek,  marked  by  the  timber  with  its  foliage 
of  tender  green,  separating  them  from  the  scenes  of  the  morn 
ing,  their  radical  feelings  toned  down  by  a  sense  of  good 
fellowship  and  the  soothing  influences  of  the  fragrant  wreaths 
of  smoke,  they  allowed  themselves  to  drift  gradually  into  the 
absorbing  topic  of  the  day. 

Alden  found  his  companion  disposed  to  be  reasonable,  and 
yet  he  was  unwilling  to  concede  that  the  North  was  all  right, 
and  the  South  all  wrong. 

"  Why,"  said  he,  "your  anti-slavery  orators' who  are  rous 
ing  the  North  to  a  state  of  virtuous  indignation  against  the  sins 
of  the  South,  look  only  at  this  question  from  a  sentimental  and 
emotional  standpoint.  They  refuse  to  see,  or  at  least  they 
will  not  acknowledge  the  fact,  that  American  slavery  has 
done  more  toward  the  civilization  of  the  negro,  than  all  other 
agencies  combined. 

"  That  system  is  not  surely  all  bad  which  in  one  or  two 
centuries  has  transformed  so  many  naked  savages,  upon  whose 
liberty,  when  brought  to  our  shores,  clothing  was  an  in 
fringement,  industry  an  outrage,  and  to  whom  marriage  and 
the  family  relations  were  unknown,  into  a  race  of  orderly, 
industrious  people.  Why,  it  was  a  heaven-born  mercy  to 
take  the  blacks  of  Congo  or  Ashantee  from  their  pit  of  deg 
radation  and  drive  them  into  the  cotton  field,  and  teach 
them  the  first  lessons  of  civilization  with  the  whip  of  Saxon 
industry. 

"  Compulsory  industry  was  the  best  form  of  compnlsory 
education  for  them,  and  the  only  form,  and  yet  you  North- 


l6o  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

erners  persist  in  ignoring  all  this,  and  regarding  the  slavery 
of  the  Southern  States,  as  if  it  were  a  degradation  of  men 
otherwise  equal,  like  your  own  white  laborers,  instead  of 
being  an  elevation  into  industrial  men  and  women,  of  creat 
ures  hitherto  incapable  of  civilization." 

All  this  John  Alden  acknowledged,  and  thought  it  a  pity 
there  were  not  leaders  on  both  sides  who  could  take  a  passion 
less  view  of  this  great  subject. 

"For,"  said  he,  "if  the  North  is  blind  to  the  great  advantage 
which  slavery  has  conferred  upon  the  subject  race,  the  South 
is  equally  regardless,  that  having  been  a  good  thing  in  its  day, 
is  no  reason  why  it  should  be  extended  indefinitely,  and 
continued  interminably;  that,  having  inculcated  the  beneficence 
of  the  family  relation,  and  awakened  the  tenderest  of  ties  in 
the  breast  of  the  descendants  of  the  imported  negro,  it  is  an 
outrage  in  pursuance  of  selfish  interests,  to  ignore  those  feel 
ings  in  the  ruthless  severance  of  family  ties;  and  that,  having 
fitted  the  race  for  freedom,  and  received  the  benefits  of  their 
labor  during  the  years  of  tutelage,  it  is  inexcusable,  and  in 
deed,  inexpedient  for  the  white  race  to  continue  him  in  that 
condition,  when  the  humanitarian  idea  has  given  place  entirely 
to  selfish  purposes." 

"  Oh,  it's  too  soon !  too  soon  by  a  century  or  two,"  said  the 
young  Southerner,  giving  a  vigorous  puff  at  his  cigar,  and 
running  his  hand  through  the  locks  of  his  long  black  hair. 
"  Take  off  the  shackles,  remove  the  lash,  and  the  negro  will 
lapse  back  into  savagery,  forgetting  all  the  lessons  learned,  just 
as  the  child  does  the  letters  of  the  alphabet,  if  allowed  to  stop 
the  repetition  of  them,  before  they  have  become  firmly  fixed 
by  repeated  indurations  upon  the  brain." 

Any  reply  to  this  was  prevented  by  the  coming  of  the 
ladies,  who  now  joined  them  with  fancy  work  in  hand, 
Gracie  saying  as  they  seated  themselves: 

*l  We've  finished  our  prose  lesson,"  meaning  thereby  that 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  l6l 

the  dinner  table  was  cleared,  and  the  dishes  washed,  "  and 
have  come  out  here  for  a  little  poetry." 

"  And  is  this  the  book  you  mean  to  read  it  from  ?"  said 
Delaney,  unrolling  a  mass  of  worsteds  of  various  colors  which 
had  fallen  to  the  ground  beside  her. 

"Nay!  they  are  but  the  cabalistic  signs  by  which  I  shall 
hereafter  call  up  the  lines  I  read  to-day.  My  book  shall  be 
the  sky,  the  distant  trees,  the  grass,  the  low  wind's  whisper, 
and  you  and  papa." 

"  Oh,  pray  don't  class  me  as  poetry !"  exclaimed  John.  "  I 
am  the  very  plainest  and  dryest  of  prose,  a  theological 
treatise,  or  something  of  that  kind." 

She  laughed.  "  I  won't  open  your  pages  then,  but  mamma 
will,  and  turning  to  Roderick:  "What  are  you?  I  can't  quite 
make  out  the  letters  on  your  title  page.  They  are  in  a  for 
eign  language,  I  fancy." 

"No,  only  good  old  English.  I  am  a  book  of  quotations." 
And  as  all  smiled,  "  That's  a  fact,  there's  positively  nothing 
original  within  my  pages." 

"  Nothing?  Are  you  sure?  "  looking  at  him  archly;  and 
as  he  nodded  affirmation,  "Pray,  then,  Sir  Quotation  Book, 
what  have  you  to  say  on  truth  ?  " 

"Truth  needs  no  color,  with  his  color  fixed, 
Beauty  no  pencil.  Beauty's  truth  to  lay." 

— Shakespeare. 
was  the  ready  reply. 

"  Hope?  "  said  she,  questioningly. 

"  Hope  is  a  lover's  staff;  I'll  hence  with  that 
And  manage  it  against  despairing  thoughts." 

— Shakespeare. 

This  he  repeated  with  an  earnest  look  which  brought  the 
blood  surging  to  her  face,  and  Amy  took  up  the  role  of 
questioner: 

"  Now  I'll  ask  for  one  on  happiness." 
10 


l62  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  And  I  will  give  you  a  good  old  familiar  one  from 
Burns,"  said  he  with  a  smile  and  then  repeated,  with  a  good 
Scotch  brogue — 

"  It's  nae  in  books,  it's  nae  in  lear, 

To  make  us  truly  blest ; 
If  happiness  has  not  her  seat 

And  center  in  the  breast, 
We  may  be  wise,  or  rich,  or  great, 

But  never  can  be  blest." 

Thus  they  continued,  for  an  hour  or  more,  with  this 
variation,  that  occasionally  each  of  the  others  volunteered 
some  remembered  scrap,  and  when  the  sun  was  setting, 
Grace  declared  she  had  a  sentiment  for  every  square  inch  of 
her  crochet-work,  netted  well  into  the  web  of  memory. 

By  this  time  the  sun  had  entirely  disappeared,  the  short 
twilight  was  deepening  into  night,  Delaney  was  taking  his 
leave,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Langtry  were  seen  approaching. 
Before  Grace  had  finished  the  numerous  and  weighty 
messages  which  Roderick  was  to  bear  to  Miss  Mabel,  the 
Langtrys  were  beside  them.  The  gentlemen  exchanged  very 
civil  bows,  Mrs.  Alden  introduced  Mr.  Delaney  to  Mrs. 
Langtry,  and  she  thanked  him  in  her  sweetest  manner,  for 
his  interposition  in  behalf  of  her  husband  in  the  morning. 

He  turned  it  off  hastily,  saying  it  was  nothing,  nothing  at 
all;  and  to  Amy,  "  I  have  had  a  very  pleasant  afternoon;"  to 
all,  "  Adieu,"  and  was  gone. 

"  Well,"  said  John,  turning  to  Langtry,  "  how  do  you 
feel  by  this  time?" 

"  First  rate,"  was  the  reply. 

"Indeed!  you  do  look  pretty  well  for  a  defeated  can- 
didate." 

«  Not  defeated  yet,  by  a  long  shot,"  smiling. 

"  How  do  you  make  that  out  ?  " 

"  Easy  enough.     Do  you  suppose  this  election  will  hold 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  163 

good?  Of  course  not;  we  will  enter  a  protest.  The  Gov 
ernor  will  order  a  new  election,  and  the  United  States  troops 
will  be  sent  to  protect  us  in  the  exercise  of  our  franchise." 

"  Don't  be  too  sure  of  that.  I  will  admit  it  is  what  would 
be  done  in  any  State  north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line;  but 
you  are  out  of  the  region  of  safe  political  predictions.  You 
are  launched  on  a  sea  of  uncertainties,  where  even  the  com 
pass  of  law  is  perverted,  and  no  longer  points  with  unerring 
directness  to  the  polar  star  of  justice.  The  Executive  of  the 
United  States  is  with  the  slave  power.  The  Governor  will 
never  be  able  to  get  control  of  the  troops  for  our  pro 
tection,  even  if  he  have  backbone  enough  to  order  a  new 
election." 

"Well,  we  shall  see;  at  any  rate,  they  have  done  a  good 
day's  work  in  the  cause  of  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves, 
and  in  the  end  we  shall  triumph,  be  the  contest  long  or  short. 
Let  it  come  as  they  elect,  gently  as  the  summer  breeze,  or  in 
the  whirlwind  of  strife  and  passion  and  bloodshed." 

One  by  one  the  members  of  the  "  Association"  then 
dropped  in  for  consultation,  and  helped  themselves  to  seats. 
Our  squatter  sovereign  had  found  it  necessary  to  keep  a  pile 
of  boards  for  use  at  these  meetings,  and  they  were  laid  upon 
logs  placed  at  convenient  distances,  to  serve  as  supports.  The 
grounds  soon  presented  somewhat  of  the  appearance  of  a 
camp-meeting,  with  this  difference,  the  attitudes  assumed 
were  not  those  of  stiff-backed,  puritanical  election,  nor  yet 
of  penitential  devotion,  but  each  man  disposed  of  his  limbs 
unrestrainedly  in  any  or  all  directions  most  conducive  to  ease. 
Then,  too,  there  was  a  liberal  sprinkling  of  pipes  throughout 
the  assembly,  and  the  air  was  redolent  of  tobacco  fumes, 
nothing  worse,  except  in  rare  cases. 

A  glance  at  the  men  was  sufficient  to  decide  which  of 
them  had  families  in  the  Territory.  There  was  a  well-dressed, 
well-fed  look  about  those  for  whose  welfare  women  cared, 


164  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

which  plainly  distinguished   them   from   the  flannel-shirted, 
collarless,  forlorn-looking  fellows  who  "bached." 

Many  and  loud  were  the  protestations  of  indignation  at 
the  events  of  the  morning,  each  having  "  nursed  his  wrath  to 
keep  it  warm."  All  were  anxious  to  know  what  was  to  be 
done,  and  looked  to  Langtry  and  Alden  for  directions. 
Arthur's  return  from  Warsaw  was  the  signal  for  opening  the 
meeting  in  due  form,  and  as  J  ohn  Alden  called  the  meeting 
to  order,  the  talking,  which  had  been  carried  on  in  little  groups 
of  three  or  four,  suddenly  ceased ;  and  all  listened  attentively 
to  his  review  of  the  events  of  the  morning,  and  there  was 
many  a  flashing  eye  and  impatient  gesture  as  he  told  of  the 
indignities  to  which  Langtry  had  been  subjected.  Then  he 
called  upon  Arthur  for  a  report  from  Warsaw,  and  the  young 
man  arose,  stating  that  affairs  had  been  managed  in  Warsaw 
much  the  same  as  at  Walnut  Grove.  That  the  one  thousand 
men  who  passed  on  beyond  Calhoun  on  the  day  before  the 
election,  had  camped  that  night  over  in  the  ravine  north  of  the 
town.  That  they  were  well  armed  and  supplied  with  two 
pieces  of  artillery — that  they  wore  a  badge  of  white  ribbon, 
and  brought  election  tickets  which  had  been  printed  in  Missouri 
— that  they  insisted  upon  voting  without  taking  the  oath  as  to 
residence;  that  they  formed  two  long  lines  of  guards  in  front 
of  the  polls,  through  which  voters  were  marched  up  in  single 
file,  and  then,  as  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  return  the  same 
way,  an  opening  was  made  in  the  roof  of  the  building,  and 
voters  passed  out  through  and  from  the  roof  to  the  ground  by 
means  of  ladders.  That  the  leader,  a  Col.  Ohmer,  from 
Missouri,  requested  that  the  old  men  be  allowed  to  vote  first, 
as  they  were  weary  and  anxious  to  get  back  to  camp.  And, 
most  humiliating  of  all,  that  the  representative  for  whom 
these  perambulating  voters  had  cast  their  ballots,  was  a 
semi-simpleton  from  Missouri,  unable  to  articulate  dis 
tinctly,  whom  they  had  picked  up  and  used  for  the  express 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  165 

purpose  of  deriding  and  humiliating  the  people  of  that  Free 
State  stronghold. 

He  stated,  also,  that  numerous  citizens  of  Warsaw  had 
been  driven  off  the  grounds  during  the  day,  but  that  a  number 
had  been  allowed  to  vote  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  most 
of  the  Missourians  had  returned  to  camp,  but  their  votes 
numbered  only  two  hundred  and  fifty-three,  while  the  illegal 
votes  cast  amounted  to  eight  hundred  and  two. 

"  And  what  do  they  propose  to  do  about  it  ? "  was  the 
question,  as  Arthur  sat  down  after  this  recital. 

He  rose  again  to  say  that,  "  as  far  as  he  could  learn,  no 
definite  plan  had  been  determined  upon,  but  that  the  general 
opinion  was  that  the  only  course  to  be  pursued  was  to  protest 
within  the  four  days  allotted  by  the  Governor  for  that  pur 
pose,  and  also  to  memorialize  Congress  on  the  subject." 

Several  exciting  and  eloquent  speeches  followed,  and  then 
a  protest  was  written,  affidavits  made  out  and  signed,  and 
Arthur  Fairchild  appointed  to  present  them  to  His  Excellency 
the  Governor.  Soon  after  the  Association  adjourned,  to 
assemble  again  at  the  call  of  the  President. 

Meanwhile,  Agnes  Langtry  and  Amy,  who  had  retired 
to  the  house  as  the  evening  advanced,  and  the  meeting  out 
side  assumed  a  political  character,  were  making  reports,  com 
paring  progress,  and  discussing  methods  on  equally  important 
subjects. 

Agnes'  white  hen  had  hatched  out  ten  dear  little  chickens, 
the  first  of  the  season,  and  it  was  so  interesting  to  watch  the 
fond  mother  strutting  about  surrounded  by  her  little  brood, 
and  to  hear  her  cluck !  cluck!  when  she  had  scratched  up 
some  particularly  delicate  morsel  of  a  worm. 

Amy  had  two  hens,  the  brown  one  with  the  black  top 
knot,  and  the  grey  and  white  speckled  one,  which  she  ex 
pected  to  come  off  within  a  week.  What  should  she  feed 
the  young  chickens?  Agnes  thought  corn-meal  and  water 


1 66  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

was  the  best,  they  didn't  need  much  of  anything  for  a  day  or 
two.  How  many  eggs  did  Amy  get  a  day?  Only  six,  so 
many  of  the  hens  were  determined  to  sit,  and  the  family  had 
used  the  eggs  so  there  were  none  to  give  them;  how  to 
break  them  up  she  did  not  know,  and  then  the  perverse 
creatures  all  had  such  a  fondness  for  the  tender  leaves  of 
lettuce,  just  peeping  above  the  ground. 

Agnes  said  her  chickens  troubled  the  garden,  too,  but  now 
that  the  election  was  over,  perhaps  she  could  get  a  place 
fenced  off  for  them.  She  did  not  like  to  keep  them  shut  up 
all  day  in  a  small  coop,  it  seemed  so  cruel. 

"  So  it  is,"  said  Amy,  "  and  then  they  wouldn't  lay  if  you 
did,  and  what  should  we  do  without  eggs;  they  are  our  staple 
delicacy?  " 

"  We  care  more  for  milk,  but  you  can't  imagine  how 
dreadful  it  was  to  be  without  either,  as  we  were  when  we 
first  came  to  the  Territory.  What  luck  did  you  have  with 
your  bread?" 

"Not  first-rate;  and  we  had  Mr.  Delaney  here  for  dinner. 
I  don't  believe  that  yeast  is  good;  or,  perhaps,  it  is 
the  flour  that  is  poor.  I'm  sure  I  spared  no  pains  in  the 
making." 

"  What  a  fine-looking  fellow  Mr.  Delaney  is.  I  always 
did  admire  black  eyes.  Did  you  knead  it  up  twice,  and  keep 
it  warm  ? " 

"  Of  course  I  did.  I  always  keep  my  sponge  warm.  But 
do  you  like  black  eyes?  I'm  sure  I  prefer  blue  and  true  ones, 
like  Arthur's.  Are  your  flower  seeds  coming  up?" 

u  Oh,  yes;  I  meant  to  show  them  to  you,  when  you  were 
over  yesterday;  but  you  must  come  again  to-morrow,  and 
then  I  will  give  you  a  new  recipe  for  pioneer  cake.  Only 
takes  one  egg,  and  you  can  make  it  of  corn-meal  when 
you  are  out  of  flour.  Does  Mr.  Delaney  live  over  in 
Charleston?" 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  167 

"  Oh,  no;  he  only  comes  there  occasionally,  to  look  after 
the  welfare  of  the  colony  from  South  Carolina.  His  home 
is  in  Lauderdale,  but  he  is  traveling  most  of  the  time.  Do 
you  use  fruit  in  that  cake? " 

"  Why,  yes.  I  thought  I  told  you  I  put  in  dried  apples," 
and  then  Agnes  told  Amy  of  a  poor  family  whom  she  had 
visited  during  the  day  where  the  mother  was  sick,  and  her 
three  little  children  suffering  for  the  want  of  care,  while  the 
discouraged  father  was  endeavoring  to  hear  up  bravely  under 
his  heavy  load  of  out-door  work  and  in-door  trouble. 

In  health  it  is  easy  to  battle  bravely  with  the  ills  of  life? 
but  many  a  one  broken  down  completely  under  exposure, 
resulting  from  carelessness  or  ignorance  of  the  necessary 
precautions  to  preserve  health,  had  cause  to  thank  Agnes 
Langtry  and  Amy  Alden.  It  required  just  such  cheerful, 
hopeful  spirits  as  theirs  to  inspire  the  dispirited  with  courage 
to  rise  again;  and  also  just  such  ingenuity  and  originality  as 
that  displayed  in  evolving  fruit-cake  from  such  unpromising 
materials  as  dried  apples  and  corn-meal,  to  give  variety  to  the 
daily  food  which  supplied  the  force  necessary  to  subdue  and 
harmonize  the  discordant  elements  in  this  new  environment. 

John  Alden  was  quite  wakeful  on  this  particular  night, 
and  his  uneasiness  was  caused  not  alone  by  the  existing 
political  events  of  the  morning,  but  by  the  book  he  had  seen 
Grace  reading  in  the  evening,  a  new  one,  a  book  of  poems, 
and  by  the  delicate  flush  on  her  cheek  and  the  light  which  he 
had  seen  in  her  eye  when  listening  to  Roderick  Delaney. 

He  was  not  selfish  enough  to  desire  to  carry  out  his  own 
plans  regardless  of  her  feelings,  but  it  did  seem  to  him,  as 
perhaps  our  own  cherished  plans  seem  to  us  all,  that  the  path 
in  life  which  his  fancy  had  marked  out  for  her,  as  the  wife  of 
Arthur  Fairchild,  was  the  one  which  led  over  the  uplands,  by 
shady  paths  and  sunshiny  dells.  Of  similar  habits  and  tastes, 
there  would  be  no  wide  divergence  of  inclinations  and  desires. 


1 68 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 


With  means  sufficient  to  make  a  fair  beginning  in  life with 

a  home  already  chosen  near  her  parents,  what  more  could  be 
desired?  And,  resolving  that,  while  he  could  not  stem  the 
current,  he  would  still  use  every  means  in  his  power  to  guide 
its  course  in  consonance  with  his  own  wishes,  he  fell  asleep. 


CHAPTER  XIX.  - 

THE      GOVERNOR'S      MANSION — ARTHUR'S      MISSION — THE 

PROPOSAL. 

Arthur  returned  from  his  mission  of  protest  in  two  days, 
with  his  ideas  of  the  dignity  of  the  gubernatorial  office  in 
the  Territory  somewhat  modified,  while  his  respect  for  the 
incumbent  was  materially  increased. 

44  Now  where,"  said  he,  "  do  you  think  I  found  the  Gov 
ernor  of  Kansas  holding  his  official  receptions?" 

"  In  a  seven-by-nine  cabin,"  said  Amy. 

"  On  the  open  prairie,  with  the  blue  sky  for  a  canopy," 
suggested  Grace. 

"Not  quite  so  bad  as  that;  but  I  found  him  occupying  a 
room  twenty  feet  square,  in  a  rickety  frame  building,  with 
an  ill-hung  door,  through  which  the  Kansas  zephyrs  play 
unceasingly.  It  has  one  window  in  the  south,  and  two  in 
the  north,  over  which  hang  cheap  tawdry  chintz  curtains, 
vexing  the  eye  with  their  limp,  colorless  folds.  A  double 
curled  maple  poster,  of  ancient  style,  stands  in  one  corner, 
on  whose  mattress  of  hay,  covered  with  blue  Mackinac 
blankets,  the  weary  head,  vexed  with  the  cares  of  state, 
seeks  repose,  peacefully  slumbering  side  by  side,  and  snoring 
in  concert  with  his  private  secretary,  who  shares  his  bed  and 
board.  A  wash-stand  that  a  fashionable  Biddy  would  reject 
with  scorn,  furnished  with  a  tin  wash-basin  and  pitcher  with 
broken  mouth,  stands  opposite  the  bed;  and  above  it  hangs  a 
deceitful  looking-glass,  sole  ornament  of  the  dilapidated  walls, 
whose  dust-begrimed  surface  reflected  back  such  a  conglomer- 

169 


17°  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

ation  of  ill-assorted  features  that  I  turned  away  in  haste,  lest 
suicidal  intentions  be  developed  there  and  then.  In  the  cen 
ter  of  the  room  stands  a  large  table,  whose  blue  Mackinac 
covering  is  in  harmony  with  the  bedspread,  and  this  was 
literally  covered  with  piles  of  public  documents,  newspapers, 
and  writing  material.  A  huge  pile  of  law  books  lay  on  the 
uncarpeted  floor,  and,  with  a  gallon  of  ink,  the  public  docu 
ments  aforesaid,  and  the  Territorial  seal — which  occupied  a 
conspicuous  position — was  all  that  reminded  one  of  the  power 
vested  in  the  occupant  of  this  primitive-looking  apartment." 

"  Well,  I  should  say,"  exclaimed  Grace,  "  that  His  Excel 
lency  is  the  most  Democratic  Governor  in  the  United  States." 

A  laugh  followed  this  pun,  and  then  Arthur  continued: 
"  But  this  is  by  no  means  the  worst  of  it.  There  is  such 
a  pressure  brought  to  bear  upon  the  Governor  by  the  slave 
power,  acting  through  the  national  executive,  that  between 
this  and  his  desire  to  act  fairly  by  the  Free  State  men  he  is 
bound  to  be  crushed  as  between  the  upper  and  nether  mill 
stones." 

"And  what  did  he  do  with  your  protest?"  was  Alden's 
inquiry. 

"  Received  it,  of  course;  declared  the  acts  of  the  Missouri 
invaders  a  base  outrage  on  the  rights  of  American  citizens, 
and  has  ordered  a  new  election  to  take  place  on  the  twenty- 
first  of  May,  and  in  consequence,  has  incurred  the  deadly 
hatred  of  the  pro-slavery  party,  who  declare  boldly,  4  This  in 
fernal  scoundrel  will  have  to  be  hemped  yet.'  " 

Before  the  March  election  the  pro-slavery  men  had  been 
suspicious  of  Governor  Reeves,  and  feared  that,  weighed  in 
the  scales  of  pro-slavery  propagandism,  he  would  be  found 
wanting;  and  now  that  he  refused  certificates  of  election  to 
those  whose  seats  had  been  contested,  and  ordered  new  elections 
in  those  districts,  they  declared  open  war  against  him.  Their 
first  move  was  to  send  a  delegation  of  their  leading  men  to 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  17! 

try  the  virtues  of  persuasion,  backed  by  threats,  to  induce  him 
to  disregard  his  own  orders,  and  grant  certificates  of  election 
to  the  victorious  candidates  of  March  30.  But  persuasion 
and  threats  alike  failed.  The  Governor  was  firm — he  was 
determined  to  do  impartial  justice,  so  far  as  the  power  within 
him  lay.  Then  they  called  a  public  meeting  at  the  Shawnee 
Mission,  and  passed  resolutions  to  this  effect: 

Resolved,  That  the  right  to  order  a  new  election,  except 
in  the  case  of  a  tie,  or  of  a  death  or  resignation,  is  not  vested 
in  the  Governor  by  the  organic  act,  and  that  consequently 
his  order  for  a  new  election  on  the  2ist  of  May,  is  null 
and  void. 

Resolved,  That  the  Legislature  itself  upon  organization 
must  decide  cases  of  contested  election — that  the  pro-slavery 
men  have  elected  a  large  majority  of  the  members  of  that  body, 
and  therefore  the  interests  of  their  party  are  safe,  and  all  law- 
abiding  citizens  are  requested  not  to  attend  the  elections  or 
dered,  but  to  rely  on  the  returns  already  made  to  sustain  the 
claims  of  those  whom  they  have  chosen  to  represent  them. 

Copies  of  these  resolutions  were  circulated  in  every  dis 
trict  in  the  Territory,  and,  of  course,  conveyed  to  the  political 
societies  in  Missouri,  under  whose  orders  the  rank  and  file 
held  themselves;  and,  when  the  2ist  of  Ivlay  arrived,  Langtry 
found  himself  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  House  by  the  ninety 
Free  State  votes  of  his  precinct,  now  increased  to  something 
over  a  hundred,  but  with  the  certainty  of  a  contest  before 
him  if  he  endeavored  to  take  his  place. 

From  this  contest,  however,  he  had  no  intention  of 
shrinking.  Possessed  of  the  true  spirit  of  the  reformer,  he 
was  ready  to  contend  against  all  odds — to  treasure  up  the 
smallest  gain  obtained,  at  whatever  cost — to  fall  back,  if 
beaten,  only  to  take  breath  and  resume  his  sturdy  strokes  at 
the  wrong  which  waked  his  wrath.  All  considerations  of 
self  were  swallowe^  up  in  devotion  to  the  cause  to  which  his 


1^2  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

soul  had  sworn  fealty.  There  was  for  him  no  rest,  no  ease 
of  body  or  mind  while  three  millions  of  patient  human  beings 
clanked  the  chains  of  slavery.  Their  pleading  faces  were 
ever  in  his  sight,  their  groans  of  agony  in  his  ears,  and  all 
the  beauty,  and  ease,  and  wealth  in  the  world  could  not  have 
tempted  him  to  desist;  nor  could  opposition  or  danger,  or 
the  fear  of  death,  deter  him  in  his  course. 

As  the  disagreeable  news  came  into  Warsaw  and  Wal 
nut  Grove  that  the  elections  of  March  30  all  over  the 
Territory  had  been  carried  in  the  same  fraudulent  man 
ner,  and  that  but  six  districts  had  been  able  to  protest 
in  consequence  of  the  short  time  allotted,  or  of  ignorance 
of  the  manner  of  procedure,  or  in  consequence  of  threats 
and  intimidation,  and  even  actual  violence,  used  in  the  bor 
der  counties,  indignation  ran  high. 

By  invitation,  the  settlers  of  all  the  surrounding  coun 
try  met  in  Warsaw  for  consultation  and  discussion.  There 
was  a  difference  of  opinion  on  many  points,  as  is  usual  in 
such  cases,  but  to  all  it  was  plain  that  it  was  the  determina 
tion  of  the  Pro-Slavery  party  to  force  that  institution  upon 
them,  whether  they  desired  it  or  not,  and  that  it  was  necessary 
to  take  measures  to  protect  themselves  in  some  way  against 
these  aggressions.  While  one  party  contended  that  violence 
must  be  met  with  violence,  the  other  was  in  favor  of  simply 
defensive  measures. 

A  memorial  was  prepared  for  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  praying  for  relief,  and  asking  that  a  commission  be 
appointed  to  investigate  the  election  frauds.  And  it  was  also 
determined  that,  as  the  whole  thing  was  a  violent  usurpation,  no 
regard  would  be  paid  to  any  laws  enacted  by  this  Legislature, 
and  that  all  its  proceedings  would  be  regarded  as  null  and  void. 

Then,  a  gentleman  from  one  of  the  cities  on  the  Missouri 
River  arose,  and  in  a  mild  tone  related  the  shameful  proceed 
ings  of  the  ruffians  on  the  border. 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  173 

His  voice  grew  tremulous;  many  of  the  audience  were 
melted  to  tears,  and  others  hardened  to  oaths,  as  he  related 
the  sufferings  of  a  brave  man  in  a  city  on  the  Missouri,  who 
dared  protest  against  the  frauds  of  March  30.  How  he  was 
torn  from  his  family,  and  treated  to  a  coat  of  tar  and  feathers; 
and  of  another,  who,  for  the  simple  expression  of  his  opinions, 
was  set  adrift  on  the  Missouri  River  and  forbidden  to  enter  the 
Territory  again;  and  how  an  editor  on  the  Missouri  border, 
in  the  town  of  Marksburg,  for  publishing,  in  very  mild  terms, 
his  disapprobation  of  their  proceedings,  was  subjected  to  .in 
sult  and  contumely,  and  would  have  been  lynched  upon  the 
spot  but  for  the  interposition  of  his  wife — a  young  and  beauti 
ful  woman — who  clung  to  him  with  such  tenacity  that  they 
were  forced  to  abandon  their  purpose,  and  content  themselves 
with  destroying  his  property — breaking  up  his  press  and 
throwing  it  into  the  Missouri  River,  and  giving  himself  and 
family  but  a  few  hours  to  leave  the  place. 

At  this  recital,  excitement  knew  no  bounds,  and  it  was  re 
solved  that  prudence  required  the  Free  State  men  to  obtain 
arms,  to  form  themselves  into  companies,  and  to  drill,  that 
they  might  defend  their  property  and  their  lives.  It  was  dis 
covered  that  there  was  a  sad  lack  of  arms  on  the  part  of  set 
tlers  from  the  North.  Unaccustomed  to  decide  difficulties  or 
resent  insults  by  the  quick,  sharp  flash  which  admits  of  no  ap 
peal  from  its  decisions,  they  were  totally  unprepared  in  this 
respect  to  cope  with  the  frontiersman,  who  bristled  with 
weapons  from  his  belt  to  his  boots;  and  it  was  thought  ad 
visable  to  send  a  committee  to  the  East  to  obtain  arms  in  as 
large  quantities  and  on  as  favorable  terms  as  possible,  many 
of  the  best  and  bravest  being  unable  to  pay  for  them,  unless 
allowed  time. 

Arthur  Fairchild,  having  won  the  favorable  notice  of 
many,  by  a  brilliant  speech  during  the  progress  of  the  meet 
ing,  was  elected  a  member  of  this  committee,  and  furnished 


174  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

with  credentials  and  instructions  to  many  of  the  leading 
Abolitionists  in  Ohio,  and  other  Northwestern  States,  while 
other  gentlemen  were  sent  on  similar  missions  to  the  East. 

The  various  settlements  were  instructed  to  form  their  own 
military  companies  for  defense,  elect  their  own  officers,  and 
then  this  convention  adjourned. 

Arthur  was  somewhat  dazzled  by  the  unexpected  applause 
which  had  greeted  his  little  speech. 

But  he  had  indeed  spoken  well,  with  all  the  enthusiasm  of 
youth,  with  the  fire  in  his  eye  which  betokens  a  consciousness 
of  strength  to  do  battle,  and  an  unwavering  faith  in  the 
result.  He  could  not  foresee  as  did  those  further  on  in  life, 
whom  repeated  failures,  and  half-won  fields  had  tutored,  the 
giants  in  the  pathway,  the  sword  suspended  in  air,  the  silken 
net  of  judicial  chicanery,  whose  invisible  web  lay  in  wait  to  trip 
the  feet  of  the  unwary,  the  pitfalls  of  political  delusion,  the 
great  shadow  of  fear  which  fell  upon  the  land  at  the  cry  of 
disunion;  nor  yet  the  sorrow,  the  woe,  the  bloodshed,  the 
destruction  of  the  fairest  and  the  best,  which  should  come  to 
both  sides,  ere  the  Gordian  knot  be  cut,  and  the  solution  of 
the  problem  reached.  Nay,  his  impulsive  spirit  leaped  as  did 
those  of  Langtry  and  many  others,  across  the  bloody  chasm, 
and  ranged  the  fair  fields  of  universal  freedom. 

There  was  but  one  drawback  to  Arthur's  elation  at  the 
appointment  which  had  been  given  him.  It  was  a  great 
compliment  indeed,  to  so  young  a  man,  to  be  selected  for  so 
important  a  mission,  and  one  which  a  number  coveted,  and  of 
course  he  appreciated  that  fact,  and  said  so  in  appropriate 
words  in  acceptance  of  the  trust.  'Tis  true,  in  leaving  at  this 
time,  he  gave  up  all  hopes  of  raising  any  crop,  except  the  few 
acres  of  corn  which  he  had  put  into  the  land  broken  by  the 
Walnut  Grove  Association  during  his  former  absence.  But 
having  become  possessed  of  the  divine  wrath  of  the  reformer, 
the  holy  rage  which  crops  up  here  and  there,  from  time  to 


TJIE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  1 75 

time,  in  hearts  which  vibrate  to  the  call  of  wronged  humanity. 
— it  was  in  the  blood  perhaps,  descended  as  he  was  from  old 
Puritan  stock — there  was  naught  for  him,  as  for  Langtry,  but 
to  put  forth  his  hand  to  right  the  wrong  which  confronted 
him,  at  whatever  cost. 

But  there  was  one  obstacle  in  the  way,  one  which 
an  older  man,  or  one  less  earnest  in  his  nature  would  have 
brushed  aside  as  trivial,  of  less  account  than  the  great  cause 
which  had  engaged  his  services,  of  less  account  than  that 
political  distinction,  the  path  to  which  this  slight  success  had 
opened  before  him.  But  to  Arthur  Fairchild  this  other  inter 
est  had  grown  with  his  growth,  and  was  intertwined  through 
every  fiber  of  his  being.  It  was  his  love  for  Grace,  John 
Alden's  daughter,  she  who  seemed  as  unconscious  of  this  deep 
devotion  as  of  the  air  she  breathed,  so  unobtrusive  was  it,  so 
omnipresent,  so  pure. 

With  unexampled  patience  had  he  served  and  waited, 
determined  not  to  imperil  the  happiness  of  his  life  by  a  hasty, 
importunate  appeal;  although  it  must  have  been  unspeakably 
vexatious  to  give  all  and  receive  but  a  share  of  the  smiles 
dispensed  as  graciously  and  as  indiscriminately  as  the  sun's 
rays  upon  all  her  attendant  satellites.  And  then  of  late,  he 
had  noted  what  he  feared  most,  a  special  interest  awakened 
in  another,  that  other  a  representative  of  the  party  against 
which  himself  and  his  friends  were  arrayed. 

And  the  more  he  reflected,  the  more  he  felt  sure,  that  he 
could  not  go  single-hearted  to  his  work,  without  at  least  an 
attempt  to  gain  a  word  for  his  love  to  feed  upon,  a  promise 
which  would  spur  his  faculties,  released  from  this  tension  of 
uncertainty,  to  the  utmost  limits  of  their  ability,  and  given 
which,  he  felt  there  was  nothing  on  earth  beyond  his  power 
to  accomplish. 

But  a  few  days  were  allowed  him  to  prepare  for  departure, 
and  they  were  mostly  spent  in  consultation  with  the  Free 


17  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

State  leaders  in  Warsaw,  that  he  might  be  able  to  represent 
the  case  understandingly,  and  state  knowingly  the  intentions 
of  his  party  for  the  future. 

And  each  evening  found  a  merry  group  assembled  in 
Grace's  court,  on  the  south  side  of  the  cabin,  to  chat,  to 
laugh,  to  sing,  to  linger  in  the  moonlight,  exchanging  airy 
nothings  which  give  a  piquancy  and  zest  to  social  intercourse, 
and  he  found  no  opportunity  for  the  quiet  and  confidential 
talk  for  which  he  waited. 

The  last  evening  had  come.  The  morrow  would  see 
him  on  his  journey.  He  had  been  detained  in  Warsaw  quite 
late,  and  returned  to  find  visitors  who  lingered  long.  Who 
counts  the  hours  when  gentle  breezes  fan  the  brow,  and  sil 
very  moonlight  sparkles  on  the  plain?  when  the  dimly-defined 
outlines  of  hill  and  vale,  of  prairie,  woods  and  stony  bluff  take 
on  new  shapes  and  hues  of  beauty? 

But  at  last!  at  last  they  were  gone,  and  Grace  stood 
upon  the  doorstep,  about  to  enter  the  house,  when  Arthur 
said: 

"  Grace !  stay  a  moment,  please,  I  have  something  to  say 
to  you. 

"  Grace,"  Arthur  continued,  as  she  turned  toward  him, 
"come  and  sit  down  here,"  placing  her  a  chair  in  the  moon 
light,  and  one  for  himself  near  by,  arranged  so  that  he  could 
look  into  her  face.  "  You  know  that  I  leave  in  the  morning 
and  shall  be  gone  more  than  a  month." 

"That  is  so!  and  you  want  any  number  of  messages  for 
those  old  time  friends  of  ours,"  and  then  she  ran  on  with  a 
number  of  names,  and  some  characteristic  little  speech  of  re 
membrance  for  each,  to  which  he  listened  in  silence,  probably 
collecting  his  thoughts  for  the  avowal  which  was  to  follow, 
for  he  did  not  seem  to  have  heard,  and  at  the  conclusion  of 
her  chatter,  said : 

"Shall  you  miss  me,  Grace,  when  I  am  gone?" 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  1 77 

"  Why,  what  a  question!  Of  course  I  shall;  but  I  won't 
make  a  Niobe  of  myself,  and  dissolve  away  in  tears." 

Arthur  got  up  hastily  and  walked  away.  The  words  and 
manner  had  cut  him  deeply,  and  years  afterward  they  were 
to  her  a  painful  reminiscence.  Even  now,  in  a  moment  she 
realized  that  she  had  given  him  pain,  and  called  out: 

"  There,  Arthur,  don't  take  what  I  say  seriously.  We 
have  been  jesting  so  much  this  evening  that  it  seems  im 
possible  for  me  to  get  down  to  earnest  conversation.  Come 
back,  please,  and  sit  down,  and  let  us  have  one  more  pleasant 
talk  before  you  go."  This  with  more  feeling  than  she 
had  yet  displayed  toward  him,  and  of  course  he  came,  with 
his  hand  extended,  and  Grace  laid  hers  within  it,  in  token  of 
reconciliation.  She  had  risen,  and  as  they  stood  there. 'neath 
the  silent  sky,  hand  in  hand,  his  earnest  eyes  looking  into  her 
beautiful  face  almost  on  a  level  with  his  ow-n,  had  the  love 
been  mutual,  had  the  deepest  feelings  of  her  nature  responded 
to  the  surging  passion  which  swayed  his  whole  being,  raging 
tumultuously  beneath  that  calm  exterior,  maintained  by  the 
strongest  effort  of  his  will,  a  moment  would  have  been  suffi 
cient  for  an  understanding,  a  moment  more,  and  the  divinest 
joy  vouchsafed  to  man  would  have  swept  over  them  as  a 
flood-tide,  leaving  everlasting  love  anld  peace  behind.  But 
it  was  not  so ;  one  heart  had  struck  the  chords  of  love,  the 
other  vibrated  but  to  friendship's  tones. 

«'  Then  you  do  value  my  society  a  little?" 

"Why,  yes;"  her  penitential  moocl  continuing,  "  a  very 
great  deal.  I  shall  think  of  you  every  day.  There,  will 
that  do,  'Sir  Knight  of  the  rueful  countenance?'"  and  she 
looked  up  at  him  mischievously,  withdrawing  her  hand,  and 
seating  herself  again  on  the  chair  which  he  had  at  first  placed 
for  her. 

"Now,  let's   talk    of  old    times;  I  know    you  like    that 
subject." 
ii 


178  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  I  do,  Grace;  and  why?  Only  because  your  image  is  in 
terwoven  with  my  earliest  recollections.  A  smile  from  your 
brown  eyes  was  sufficient  reward  for  any  achievement  of  my 
boyhood.  To  watch  over  you,  to  care  for  you,  and  to  give 
you  pleasure,  has  always  been  my  first  thought." 

"  I  know  it,  Arthur.  You  have  been  very  good  to  me, 
better  than  I  deserve,  for  I  fear  I  have  often  pained  you,  as 
to-night,  with  my  light  words.  You  are  always  so  much  in 
earnest." 

"  And  never  more  than  now,  dear  Grace,  when  I  ask  you 
to  trust  the  happiness  of  your  life  with  me.  Give  me  "the 
right  to  care  for  you,  to  protect  you,  and  to  love  you  always. 
Be  my  wife,  Grace,  my  own  dear,  precious,  loved  and  honored 
wife!" 

She  drew  back  in  surprise. 

"  Oh,  Arthur!  Oh,  my  brother!  this  is  sudden;  this  is  un 
expected.  Let  us  be  as  we  are!  We  are  happy  enough! 
Let  us  enjoy  the  present,  and  not  seek  to  bind  ourselves  for 
the  future." 

He  took  a  step  or  two  from  her,  and  then  turned. 

"  Grace,  I  am  already  bound,  hand  and  foot,  with  bands 
which  have  grown  in  strength  with  my  stature.  Every 
smile,  every  movement,  every  light  word,  every  tear  of  yours, 
from  the  days  of  our  childhood  till  now  have  but  cemented 
those  bonds,  and  they  can  be  severed  but  with  my  life.  Tell 
me,"  said  he,  coming  back  to  her  with  quick  step  and  vehe 
ment  tone,  "  tell  me,  has  a  life-time  of  devotion  no  weight  in 
the  scale  to  offset  a  few  nattering  words  from  a  fluent  tongue, 
and  the  witchery  of  a  pair  of  black  eyes?" 

Indignantly  then  she  rose  in  her  womanhood. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Arthur  Fairchild?  "  and  she  reached 
out  her  hand  as  if  to  put  him  from  her,  and  turned  toward 
the  house;  but  he  caught  her  in  his  arms  and  detained  her, 
though  she  would  not  look  at  him. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 


179 


"  Oh,  Grace!  my  little  Grace!  you  cannot  displace  me 
from  your  heart  thus  easily.  I  know  you  cannot.  Too  often 
you  have  given  your  childish  hands  to  my  keeping. 
Too  often  have  I  borne  you  in  my  arms  over  the  rough 
places  in  our  way  to  school,  as  I  fain  would  do  now  over  the 
rough  paths  in  life.  Can  you  not  see  that  you  are  all  in  all 
to  me?  Without  you,  there  is  no  prize  in  the  world  worth 
gaining;  and  with  you,  there  is  no  height  to  which  I  may 
not  climb.  Oh,  Grace,  I  have  longed  for  this  hour,  as  the 
dungeoned  prisoner  longs  for  the  sweet  light  of  day.  Oh, 
my^  play  mate!  my  little  love!  Let  me  go  again  into  my 
cell! — uncertainty  was  bliss  compared  to  the  darkness,  the 
utter  darkness,  of  this  despair  which  has  come  upon  me." 

The  agony  of  his  tone  melted  her  heart;  she  laid  her 
head  upon  his  shoulder,  and  her  tears  fell  thick  and  fast. 

"  Oh,  Arthur!  My  brother!  I  cannot  make  you  thus  un 
happy.  If  I  am  indeed  so  dear  to  you;  if  my  poor  love  is 
necessary  to  your  happiness,  to  your  life,  it  must  be  yours. 
Take  it.  Take  me." 

"Nay!  nay!  nay!  nay!"  and  now  the  generous  depths  of 
his  soul  all  stirred,  he  put  her  from  him.  He  placed  her  gently 
on  the  chair. 

"  An  empty  chrysalis!  A  broken  casket!  I  cannot  accept 
the  sacrifice.  But,"  more  cheerfully,  "  I  will  not  take  my 
answer  now.  You  have  fanned  into  flame  the  dying  embers 
of  hope — sweet  pity  is  akin  to  love.  I  will  wait!  You  must! 
Oh,  you  will  come  to  me  with  love,  and  not  pity  in  your 
tones." 

He  had  seated  himself  beside  her,  and  now  she  leaned 
forward  and  placed  her  hand  on  his. 

"  You  are  indeed  a  whole-souled,  generous  lover,  Arthur, 
of  whom  any  woman  might  be  proud;  but  I — I  am  too 
light  of  thought— too  frivolous,  I  fear.  I  am  not  capable  of 
response  to  such  deep  affection." 


l8o  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  You  are  the  sweetest,  best,  dearest,  and  fairest  of 
women!  I  am  not  exacting,  dear.  I  do  not  require  measure 
for  measure,  but  my  wife  must  come  to  me  of  her  own  sweet 
will.  I  should  be  base,  indeed,  could  I  accept  a  promise 
drawn — almost  forced — from  you  in  a  moment  of  excitement. 
You  shall  think  of  this  in  my  absence;  and  remember,  dear, 
a  word,  a  look  of  encouragement  from  you  on  my  return, 
will  make  me  the  happiest  of  men."  He  rose  as  he  said  this, 
came  behind,  and  leaning  over  her  chair,  imprinted  a  kiss  on 
her  forehead. 

«  There,  a  brother's  kiss;  may  the  next  one  be  a  lover's." 
For  a  long  time  the  young  girl  sat  there  lost  in  thought, 
then  rising,  she  passed  slowly  to  her  chamber. 

The  next  morning  they  were  both  pale  and  silent  at  the 
breakfast  table,  and  their  eyes  did  not  meet.  Alden  kept  up 
a  little  conversation  with  Arthur  on  politics,  which  Amy  in 
terrupted  occasionally  with  words  of  remembrance  for  old 
friends,  and  when  the  meal  was  over  Amy  and  Grace  bade 
him  good-bye. 

Mr.  Alden  was  to  drive  down  with  Arthur  to  Warsaw, 
where,  as  on  a  former  occasion,  the  latter  meanPto  take  the 
stage  for  Lauderdale. 

On  the  way  down  Arthur  confided  to  Alden  much  of  the 
interview  with  Grace;  and  it  was  plain  to  be  seen  that, 
though  not  exultant,  he  was  calmly  hopeful  and  relieved  in 
mind  that  the  avowal  so  long  contemplated  had  been 
made. 

In  fact,  he  could  have  chosen  no  better  time  for  his  ap 
peal  than  on  the  eve  of  his  absence.  There  were  so  many 
pleasant  things  they  had  shared  in  common,  which,  exper 
ienced  afterward  alone,  she  found  had  lost  their  flavor,  and 
there  were  others  which  she  must  forego  entirely  in  conse 
quence  of  his  absence. 

Together  they  had  explored  the   country  for  miles  around; 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  l8l 

there  was  not  a  mossy  dell  in  the  shade  of  the  creek  but  they 
had  learned  its  whereabouts — there  was  not  a  cave  in  its 
banks  but  they  had  traced  its  limits — or  a  bed  of  wild  flowers, 
whether  gorgeous  in  size  and  hue,  or  strange,  shy,  little,  per 
fect  blossoms  of  exquisite  shape  and  delicate  coloring,  that 
they  had  not  despoiled  of  its  wealth  to  fill  the  vases  in  the 
house.  There  was  not  a  cabin  for  miles  around  at  which 
they  had  not  called,  and  together  they  had  driven  to  Warsaw 
to  attend  many  social  gatherings.  Her  parents  had  trusted 
Grace  with  Arthur  as  with  a  brother,  and  as  they  would  not 
with  a  stranger.  After  his  departure,  as  she  could  not 
drive  out  alone,  and  her  father  was  very  busy,  she  felt  some 
what  the  constraint  upon  her  freedom. 

True,  almost  every  evening  was  taken  up  by  calls  from 
one  or  more  of  the  numerous  young  gentlemen  who  had 
made  her  acquaintance,  and  who  were  willing 'to  ride  a  long 
way  for  the  pleasure  of  a  young  lady's  society,  yet  the 
homage  of  the  many  seemed  to  have  lost  its  charm — the 
draught  of  red  wine  from  a  deeper  still  had  dulled  its  flavor. 
My  lady  grew  capricious.  There  were  a  number  of  aspi 
rants  for  the  position  of  prime  minister  in  beauty's  court,  and 
they  hesitated  not  to  prefer  their  claims.  But  the  standard 
was  too  high — one  and  all  fell  short  of  the  requisites  neces 
sary.  One  was  conceited,  and  talked  too  much  of  himself; 
another  too  reticent,  seeming  to  avoid  all  mention  of  the  past; 
another  was  too  officious,  and  still  another  not  attentive 
enough.  One  was  too  practical;  another  a  dreamer;  one  sat 
on  the  edge  of  his  chair  and  twirled  his  thumbs ;  another  said, 
"  Haeow  "  and  "  Naeow"  and  "  Caeow,"  and  so  on,ad  infini- 
tum;  till,  last  of  all,  though  Grace  would  never  allow  him 
even  to  be  numbered  in  the  train,  came  Squire  Hardiker, 
member-elect  of  the  first  Kansas  Legislature,  in  a  biled  shirt 
and  a  pair  of  "  store  trousers,"  with  boots,  whose  glossy  surface 
betokened  an  awakening  to  the  requirements  of  polite  society, 


SILE  HARDIKER. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  13 

and  an  appreciation   of   the  dignities   to   which  their  wearer 
had  arrived. 

_  He  came  at  first  in  attendance  upon  his  mother,  whose 
anxiety  to  learn  the  "  ways  of  quality  "  still  continued,  and 
whose  volubility  amused  Grace  so  much  that  she  encouraged 
her  to  frequent  visits.  She  departed  to  Missouri  soon,  how 
ever,  to  make  arrangements  for  building  material  to  be  trans 
ported  to  Calhoun  for  the  erection  of  a  house,  which  she  de 
clared  should  be  "fit  for  a  Squire  and  Member  of  the  Legis- 
later  to  live  in."  And  she  said  when  it  was  done  she  in 
tended  to  bring  over  some  of  her  "  peartest  niggers"  to  run 
the  establishment,  as  by  that  time  the  Legislature  would  have 
rendered  it  safe  for  slaves  to  be  brought  in. 

"I  don't  run  no  chances  on  my  niggers,"  said  she;  "a 
nigger's  worth  a  mighty  nice  little  sum,  and  I  don't  keer  to 
risk  'em." 

After  his  mother's  departure,  Sile  continued  to  make  his 
appearance  at  Alden's  cabin  frequently,  coming  early  in  the 
evening  and  joining  John  as  he  was  attending  to  the  stock, 
sometimes  lending  a  helping  hand,  and  then  sitting  down  for 
a  friendly  smoke.  He  seemed  so  good-natured  and  well-in 
tentioned  in  his  advances  that  Alden  could  not  repulse  him, 
especially  after  that  occurrence  of  election  morning.  They 
could  not  suspect  him  of  being  a  spy,  as  he  invariably  edged 
off  when  the  Free  Statesmen  began  to  drop  in,  and  found  his 
way  to  the  south  side  of  the  house,  where  he  could  look  at 
Grace  and  fall  heir  to  an  occasional  word  or  two  which  she 
graciously  granted  in  return  for  the  silent  admiration  which 
his  eyes  expressed. 

Roderick  Delaney  did  not  come  at  this  time;  he,  too,  had 
gone  off  on  some  errand  connected  with  the  business  of  his 
party. 

Had  he  come  now,  with  his  interesting  conversation,  his 
charming,  deferential  manner,  and  the  novel  sensations  awak- 


14  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

ened  by  his  presence,  the  result  might  have  been  differ 
ent.  The  long  days  of  Arthur's  absence  might  have  been 
bridged  over  with  so  fair  a  structure — suspended  from  such 
lofty  towers — and  with  such  bright,  enticing  views  stretching 
far  out  into  the  future,  that  the  past — the  quiet  past — with  its 
sweet  security,  its  loving  dependence  and  confident  trust, 
might  never  have  been  recalled — that  longing  for  the  unob 
trusive,  ever  agreeable  presence,  which  had,  through  constant 
association,  become  almost  a  part  of  herself,  never  have  been 
awakened. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

THE     WIDOW HER     VISIT     TO     LAUDERDALE A     PRESENT 

FOR    GRACE A    FATHER'S    ADVICE. 

"  Now,  there  comes  Widow  Hardiker,  and  I'm  glad  of 
it,"  said  Grace,  as  the  Aldens  rose  from  the  dinner-table  one 
day  near  the  end  of  June.  A  dinner-table  whose  menu 
no  longer  consisted  of  bacon  and  corn-bread  solely,  but  which 
was  now  filled  and  running  over  with  good  things  from  the 
storehouse  of  nature,  whose  doors  had  opened  wide  at  the 
first  touch  of  the  wand  of  labor. 

There  was  sweet,  crisp  lettuce  and  tender  radishes  in 
scarlet  coats,  there  were  green  peas,  and  beans,  and  beets,  and 
onions,  and  potatoes,  with  dessert  of  wild  gooseberries  and 
plums,  which  latter  were  furnished  gratis  by  the  gracious 
mother  in  the  woods  near  by.  Appetizing  food  is  not  the 
sole  foundation  of  human  happiness  and  progress,  but  it  is 
surely  one  of  the  pillars  thereof.  The 'blood  supplied  with 
rich  material  goes  to  each  organ  with  accelerated  force  and 
volume,  quickening  the  motion  of  the  complicated  machinery 
of  brain  and  limbs,  and  producing  the  maximum  of  human 
achievement. 

That  toil  which,  under  low  diet,  only  the  strongest  effort 
of  human  will  compelled,  and  which  was  drawing  upon 
vitality  for  its  motive  power,  under  the  stimulus  of  nutri 
tious  food,  became  a  pleasure  and  a  joy. 

Then,  too,  those  who  had  been  in  the  country  during  the 
previous  fall  and  early  spring,  and  had  labored  diligently,  now 
reaped  the  reward,  not  only  in  a  bountiful  supply  for  their 


1 86  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGNS 

own  tables,  but,  so  prolific  was  the  rich  new  soil,  a  large  sur 
plus  for  disposal  in  the  market  of  Warsaw,  where  the  weekly 
visits  which  Langtry  and  Alden  made  with  wagon-loads  of 
garden  produce  were  hailed  as  a  godsend  by  the  new-comers, 
and  brought  them  a  good  price  in  hard  cash.  The  money 
thus  obtained  was  put  into  improvements  on  their  claims,  and 
comforts  in  their  respective  houses.  Cooking  stoves,  with  all 
their  tin  and  iron  accompaniments,  took  the  place  of  the  fire 
place  and  Dutch  oven,  and  each  added  a  shed  of  rough  lumber 
to  his  cabin,  that  he  might  not  have  to  endure  the  heat 
of  fire,  in  addition  to  that  of  the  sun,  in  the  summer  now 
coming  on. 

Amy  and  Agnes  were  in  good  health  and  spirits,  notwith 
standing  the  constant  toil  necessary  to  carrying  on  their  re 
spective  households,  taking  care  of  milk,  and  making  butter. 
The  latter  process  was  almost  like  the  coining  of  gold,  not 
only  in  the  appearance  of  the  yellow  pats,  which  resembled 
rich  nuggets  of  the  shining  ore,  but  in  the  amount  of  cash 
returns  yielded  for  all  that  could  be  spared  from  their  own 
tables.  Congeniality  of  calling  makes  work  sweet,  but  even 
the  most  distasteful  occupation  can  be  made  agreeable  by 
prompt  and  adequate  returns. 

But  the  Widow  Hardiker  approached.  Sile,  having 
fastened  his  handsome  chestnut  horses,  and  also  tied  a  pretty- 
looking  bay  pony  with  a  glossy  coat  and  long  waving  mane, 
on  which  was  a  new  and  stylish  side-saddle,  to  a  hitching- 
post,  with  more  gallantry  than  on  a  former  occasion,  accom 
panied  her  to  the  house. 

Amy  and  Grace  went  to  the  door,  as  Alden  said : 

"  Well,  every  one  to  his  taste.  For  my  part,  I  can't  see 
how  you  can  endure  the  woman." 

"  We  cannot  well  help  ourselves,"  replied  the  gentle 
housewife.  "  She  will  come,  and  hospitality  forbids  us  to  turn 
her  away,  or  even  to  treat  her  ungraciously." 


THE   SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  187 

"  For  my  part,"  said  Grace,  "  I  like  to  have  her  come. 
She  amuses  me;  she's  as  good  as  a  comic  character  in  a  play." 

"  I'm  afraid  you'll  find  there's  more  tragedy  than  comedy 
in  the  depths  of  those  malicious-looking  eyes." 

"Oh,  papa!  you're  prejudiced.  Why,  she's  the  most 
open-hearted  old  creature  I  ever  knew.  She  tells  all  she 
knows." 

"  Yes,  and  more  too,"  said  John,  disappearing  through  the 
back  door  as  the  visitors  were  received  at  the  front. 

Sile  merely  said  "  H — h — how"  to  Amy,  but  extended 
his  hand  to  Grace,  a  ceremony  which,  having  once  screwed 
up  his  courage  to  perform,  he  seemed  loth  to  dispense  with 
on  any  occasion;  receiving  her  hand  in  return,  he  shook  it 
with  a  slow  movement  in  consonance  with  the  usual  motion 
of  his  long,  lank,  ungainly  limbs;  his  languid  eyes  meanwhile 
warming  up  his  usually  expressionless  face  as  they  drank  in 
her  graceful  image,  and  the  musical  tones  of  her  "  Good-morn 
ing,  Squire  Hardiker,"  fell  on  his  ear. 

Then  he  turned,  his  long  strides  bearing  him  to  the 
wagon,  a  new  one  gaily  painted,  and  surpassing  Arthur's  in 
style  and  finish,  vaulted  in,  gathered  up  the  reins,  and  drove 
away. 

Amy  turned  to  view  the  widow,  who  stood  by  her  side 
gazing  after  her  son  with  all  a  mother's  expression  of  pride 
in  her  face,  which  changed  as  he  disappeared  in  the  distance 
into  one  of  self-consciousness,  and  as  "  out  of  the  abundance 
of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh,"  when  culture  and  refine 
ment  have  not  taught  the  speaker  to  restrain  the  expression 
of  his  emotions  to  fit  times  and  seasons,  her  first  words  were: 

"  Wai,  how'd  ye  like  my  rig?  "  pausing  before  the  look 
ing-glass  to  take  in  the  reflection  of  herself,  and  allow  Mrs. 
Alden  and  Grace  to  contemplate  her  attire  in  its  full  measure 
of  completeness,  before  the  removal  of  her  hat  and  shawl 
should  have  shorn  it  of  its  crowning  glory. 


l88  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  Mrs.  Hardiker,"  said  Grace,  surveying  her  from  head 
to  foot,  "  you're — you  are  simply  immense ;"  and  then  she 
turned,  pretending  to  move  and  at  the  same  time  clanging 
the  strings  of  her  guitar  which  stood  in  the  corner,  to  drown 
the  gurgling  sounds  of  laughter  which  would  not  be 
suppressed. 

"  Wai,  I  thought  so,"  was  the  pleased  reply,  "  an'  I 
reckon  I've  larned  the  paces,  too,"  strutting  across  the  floor 
her  knees  striking  against  her  hoops  as  she  walked  with 
restrained  gait,  her  pea-green  silk  dress,  trimmed  with  black 
cotton  lace,  bobbing  up  and  down  at  every  step,  disclosing 
the  white  stockings  beyond  the  heights  of  her  number  seven 
prunella  gaiters,  which,  owing  to  inevitable  necessity:  fashion 
producing  none  of  more  striking  characteristics,  were  black 
and  high,  and  plain. 

"  I  kin  put  on  the  flourishes  mighty  pat,  when  I  git  all 
this  hyer  good  harness  on,"  continued  she,  tossing  her  head. 

"Where  did  you  get  it?"  asked  Grace,  turning  toward  her 
again  with  beaming  face. 

Amy  was  silent,  for  the  inharmony  between  the  wearer 
and  her  apparel  grated  on  her  feelings  with  a  discord  equal  to 
that  of  the  guitar  strings,  which  Grace  kept  striking  at 
intervals. 

Nature  had  given  her  samples  of  the  hues  which  could 
soften  the  deeply  indented  lines  left  by  time  and  labor  on  her 
face,  and  tone  down  the  harsh  features  and  sallow  complexion, 
in  the  mingled  black  and  gray  of  the  luxurious  hair  which 
graced  her  retreating  forehead,  when  she  had  removed  the 
dainty  mixture  of  pink  crepe  and  white  lace,  with  a  garniture 
of  roses,  and  held  it  up  for  admiration: 

"  Now,  this  hyer  bunnit  I  struck  in  Kansas  City,  saw  it 
hangin'  in  a  winder  of  a  milliner  shop,  an'  it  tuk  my  fancy. 
Here,  lem'me  see  it  on  you,"  and  she  put  it  on  Grace's  head. 

Embodied  spring,  crowned  with  the  graces  and  beauties 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  189 

of  June,  could  not  be  fairer  than  the  oval  face,  with  its  clear 
cut,  delicate  outline,  its  large  brown  eyes  beaming  with  mis 
chievous  expression,  the  transparent  whiteness  of  the  fine 
grained  skin,  through  which  the  quick  red  flushes  that  mark 
the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tides  of  feeling  were  plainly  visible, 
the  pinkish  tint  of  the  dimpled  cheek,  and  the  pearly  teeth 
which  the  slightly  parted  rosy  lips  disclosed,  set  in  the  filmy 
frame  of  crepe  and  lace  and  roses. 

The  widow  turned  her  from  side  to  side,  with  a  quick, 
nervous  motion,  and  then  held  her  off  at  arm's  length,  and 
gazed  admiringly,  ejaculating: 

«  Wai,  I'll  swan!  Ef  it  looks  like  that  on  me,  'tain't  no 
wonder  the  Kernel  squinted  at  me,  so  kind  o'  pleased  and 
tender  like." 

"  What  Colonel  ?"   Amy  said,  controlling  her  risibles. 

« Why,  Kernel  Delaney,  of  course.  He's  a  widderer, 
buried  his  wife  in  South  Carliny;  his  darter  Mabel  she  keeps 
house  for  "him.  But  he  needn't  be  castin'  sheeps'  eyes  at  me. 
'Tain't  a  goin'  fer  to  do  him  no  good,  I  hain't  none  o'  your 
clingin'  vines,  an'  don't  allow  to  hang  on  to  nobody,  not  ef  I 
knows  myself,"  and  she  seated  herself  in  a  rocking  chair  to 
the  discomfiture  of  her  crinoline,  while  Grace  picked  up  the 
white  crepe  shawl  that  had  fallen  to  the  floor  in  her  excite 
ment,  and  placed  it  on  the  bed  with  the  dainty  head-dress,  so 
charming  in  itself,  and  so  unfortunate  in  its  destiny. 

"  Tell  you  what,  I've  been  ridin'  a  high  hoss  down  thar! 
You  kin  bet  on  that!  Them  preachers  may  talk  about  bein' 
meek  an'  lowly  in  spent,  an'  it  goes  down  well  enough, 
s'long  as  you  hain't  got  nothin'  to  swell  on.  Ye  kin  tag 
along  at  the  end  o'  the  percession,  ef  yer  ridin'  a  bony  ole 
hoss,  but  jist  you  git  mounted  onto  a  high  steppin,  blooded 
critter,  an'  yer  bound  to  come  in  with  the  music. 

"I  jist  tell  you  what!  Mis  Squire  Diggs,  she  that  wor 
Mary  Jane  Spears,  don't  go  turnin'  up  her  nose  an'  flauntin' 


IpO  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

her  peacock's  tail  ahead  o'  me,  no  more,  you  kin  bet  your 
eyes  on  that!  'Cause  I'm  one  ahead;  lands  the  same,  niggers 
is  even,  or  nigh  about  so.  Squire's  all  right,  but  on  member 
o'  the  Legislater,  she's  nowhar!  an'  when  I  come  bouncin' 
in  upon  'em  down  in  Boone  county,  sort  o'  unexpected  like, 
with  all  this  good  harness  on,"  pluming  herself,  "  they  opened 
their  eyes,  you  bet!  as  ef  I  wor  a  circus  woman  in  her  best 
rig,  an'  I  felt  as  ef  I  wor  swingin'  'round  in  a  trapeze  above 
their  heads,  but  bimeby,  I  jest  swung  down  easy-like,  an'  got 
onto  a  level  with  'em,  an'  made  myself  to  home  for  the  sake 
o'  ole  times.  'Tain't  so  easy  goin'  it  on  the  high  strikes 
when  ye  hain't  used  to  it,"  apologetically,  and  Grace  here 
interposed : 

"Did  you  get  the  plans  for  your  house?" 

"  Yes,  an'  the  lumber,  got  'em  in  Lauderdale.  The  house 
is  goin'  fer  to  be  a  twin  to  Kernel  Delaney's.  What's  the 
use  o'  tryin'  to  be  quality,  ef  ye  can't  come  up  to  the  scratch 
an'  shell  out?  an'  ef  ye  want  to  do  a  thing  right,  go  to  them 
as  knows  how  and  larn,  that's  my  doctrun." 

"Did  you  visit  the  Colonel  in  his  home?"  inquired  Amy. 

"  You  bet !  an'  hired  a  hack  fer  to  ride  in,  too.  You  don't 
ketch  me  footin'  it  like  pore  folks  when  I've  got  the  spon 
dulicks,"  and  she  rattled  a  steel  bead  purse  of  the  kind  then 
in  vogue,  with  an  air  of  satisfaction. 

"  Most  things  kin  be  got  when  you've  got  the  yaller  boys. 
Git  them  fust,  an'  you're  all  right.  But,"  and  she  crossed  her 
feet,  and  endeavored  to  readjust  her  hoops,  "  as  I  wor 
tellin'  ye,  I  wor  druv  up  to  the  Kernel's  in  style,  an'  knocked 
at  the  door  with  my  parasol  handle,  an'  soon  it  wor  opened 
by  a  white-headed  nigger,  all  dressed  up  in  a  blue  coat  with 
brass  buttons  onto  it. 

"'Good!'  sez  I,  to  myself.  'Thar'sa  wrinkle  fur  ye, 
Susannah  Hardiker,  jist  put  that  in  your  heel.  Thar's  ole 
nigger  Steve,  that  hain't  bin  wuth  a  picayune  in  the  corn 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  19! 

field  this  five  year,  ye  kin  rig  him  up  to  tend  door.  ' Is  your 
master  in?'  sez  I. 

"'Yes'm,'  said  he,  bo  win'  as  polite  as  could  be,  'but  he's 
engaged.' 

" '  Lord,'  sez  I,  '  that  don't  trouble  me  a  mite,  I  didn't 
come  on  that  kind  o'  business;  jist  you  step  in  an'  say  the 
widder  Hardiker  would  like  to  see  im.' 

"'But  he's  engaged,'  sez  he,  bowin  lower'n  ever,  'an'  I 
don't  think  it  will  be  possible  for  him  to  see  you  this 
mornin." 

" '  Lord  a  massy !  Can't  he  leave  her  a  minnit,  to  see  a 
woman  on  business?  Must  be  all  fired  sweet  on  her,  fur  an 
ole  widderer,  older'n  I  be.  She  needn't  be  skeert,  I  hain't  set 
my  cap  fer  anybody  in  fifteen  years — I  go  it  alone,  every 
time!  an'  don't  git  euchred,  nuther,'  said  I,  an'  I  'low  I  must 
a  spoke  up  tolable  loud-like,  fer  a  door  opened  -to  the  fur  side 
o'  the  hall,  an'  the  Kernel  himself,  with  ole  Dave  Watkins? 
an'  Governor  Harlan,  an'  five  or  six  other  ole  cocks  cum 
struttin  out. 

ttc  What's  all  this  noise  about?'  said  the  Kernel,  an'  as  the 
ole  nig  lit  out,  I  spoke  up  fur  myself:  'I'm  the  widder  Har 
diker  of  Boone  county,'  sez  I, '  an'  I  cum  here  fur  to  see  you 
an'  that  cussed  nigger  'lowed  I  couldn't  nohow,  'cos  you  wor 
ingaged,  as  ef  that  wor  any  reason  for  not  seein'  a  woman  on 
business.' 

" '  The  nigger  was  mistaken,  Madam,'  said  old  Dave, 
afore  the  Kernel  had  time  to  answer  me.  '  The  Kernel  is  still 
in  the  market,'  an'  with  that  they  all  larfed,  an'  it  sort  o' 
riled  me. 

"'He  kin  stay  there  for  all  me,'  sez  I,  'I  hain't  dealin'  in 
that  breed  o'  cattle.  Only  yer  blooded  stock's  good  enough 
for  my  plantation.' 

" '  Sich  as  my  friend  General  Watkins  here,'  said  the  Ker 
nel.  The  larf  war  on  t'other  side  now,  an'  the  Kernel  tole 


I92  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

me  to  come  in  the  parlor  an'  set  down,  an'   he  looked  at  me 
so  kind  o'  sweet-like,  as  he  said: 

« « 1  wor  lookin'  for  you  in  Boone  county  last  month,  but 
didn't  find  you.' 

"'No,'  sez  I,  <  I  stay  up  in  the  Territory,  mostly,  long  o' 
Sile.' 

"  *  With  the  Yanks,'  sez  he  smilin'.  '  Wai,  they  seem  to 
have  brightened  you  up.  Really,  now,  you  are  a  lookin' 
young  an'  hansom,'  an'  I'll  swar  ef  the  ole  coot  didn't  look  at 
me,  so  admirin'  like,  an'  me  a  widder,  an'  him  a  widderer, 
that  I  felt  streaked  all  over. 

" <  It's  all  owin'  to  you,  Kernel,'  sez  I,  <  you  gin  the  ball  a 
start  when  you  made  Sile  a  Squire,  an'  now  thar's  no  tellin' 
whar  it  will  stop.' 

"  '  No  tellin'  at  all,'  sez  he;  c  your  son  may  be  Governor  of 
Kansas  yit;  always  pervidin'  his  friends  kin  hev  the  runnin' 
o'  things.' 

"'  Wai,'  sez  I,  'they've  got  the  upper  hand  now,  and 
they're  blamed  fools  if  they  don't  keep  it.' 

"  <  Of  course,  Madam,'  said  he.  «  We've  elected  our  men 
to  the  Legislate!',  an'  now  we  must  stan'  by  'em,  an'  see  that 
they  are  'lowed  to  meet,  an'  then  we  must  help  them  to  en 
force  the  laws  they  pass;  an'  to  do  this  we  must  have 
money.  How  many  slaves  did  I  understand  you  to  say  you 
possessed,  Madam  ? ' 

"  'A  hundred,'  sez  I, «  most  all  on  'em  able-bodied.' 

"  «  Then,'  sez  he,  <  I  should  say  the  price  o'  two  on  'em, 
vally'in  ov 'em  low;  say,  six  hundred  dollars  apiece,  would 
be  a  fair  contribution  from  you.' 

"  I  wuz  sort  o'  dazed  like  at  that,  an'  said  nothin';  but  he 
went  on  so  kind  o'  perswadin'  an'  sorry  like,  sayin'  as  how 
he'd  staked  his  whole  fortune  in  the  cause,  an'  ef  we  didn't 
come  up  to  the  scratch  an'  help  him  out  he  wor  a  ruined  man, 
that  I  giv  in  at  last,  an'  set  my  mark  to  a  order  for  the  money." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  193 

"  The  grasping  old  fellow,"  said  Grace,  "  that  was  too 
much  to  ask  of  you." 

"  I  dunno,"  said  she,  swinging  her  foot  and  smiling  com 
placently,  "  mebbe  t'war  a  leetle  high ;  an'  then  agin,  mebbe 
t'want;  an'  I  'low,  as  the  Kernel  said,  t'wor  better  to  give 
the  price  o'  two  to  help  him  to  save  the  rest,  than  to  hev  the 
Yanks  overrunnin'  the  country  an'  turnin'  'em  all  loose." 

"  But  they  wouldn't  do  that,"  said  Grace.  "  They  do  not 
intend  to  interfere  with  Missouri,  at  all." 

The  widow  put  her  thumb  to  her  nose,  and  wriggled  her 
fingers  in  a  way  most  disagreeable  to  Amy,  but  at  which 
Grace  laughed  heartily. 

"  D'yer  see  anythin'  green  in  my  eye? " 

"Only  the  reflection  of  your  dress,"  said  Grace;  of  which 
remark  she  took  no  cognizance,  but  went  on: 

"  Mebbe  you  wouldn't — 'low  to  say,  you  wouldn't. 
You're  young  enough  to  larn  the  vally  o'  niggers;  but  there's 
that  rantin'  fellow,  Langtry,  over  thar,  an'  that  peaked-nosed 
white  young  skeezicks,  I  see  round  here  a  while  ago,  they'd 
make  no  bones  o'  doin'  it,"  tossing  her  head  viciously;  "  but 
they're  both  on  'em  spotted." 

Grace  would  have  taken  up  the  cudgel  for  her  absent 
friends,  but  Amy  shook  her  head. 

In  a  war  of  words  with  the  widow,  Grace  would  have 
been  worsted  at  the  first  onset,  so  her  mother  discreetly  re 
called  the  subject  of  her  former  dissertations,  by  inquiring: 

"And  did  the  Colonel  show  you  his  house? " 

"And  were  you  introduced  to  Miss  Mabel?"  said 
Grace. 

"You  bet!"  was  the  reply.  "I  didn't  take  no  shine  to 
her  though,  stuck  up  thing!  The  Kernel  he  called  her,  an' 
set  her  to  show  me  over  the  house,  an'  then  he  went  back 
inter  the  room  whar  the  men  folks  wor,  an'  what  did  the 
hussy  do  but  call  a  nigger — the  same  ole  feller,  with  a  white 

12 


194  THE    SO-UATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

head,  as  did  the  door  tendin' — an'  she   told   him  to  wait   on 
me;  sed  she  wor  engaged;    reckon  it  runs  in  the  family." 

"And  did  you  see  the  house?"  said  she. 
"  Yes,  sir-ee !  I  wor  riled  at  first,  an'  most  a  mind  to  git 
up  an'  git;  an'  then  it  struck  me  I'd  stan'  a  better  chance  o' 
peekin'  into  things,  with  the  ole  nig  guidin'  of  me  than  that 
stuck  up  thing.  Hain't  nigh  onto  as  good  lookin'  as  you,"  to 
Grace.  "An  as  for  keepin'  house,  golly  soggers !  but  things 
is  wasted  over  thar!  I'd  like  to  have  the  trainin'  o'  them 
niggers  for  one  while,  but  I  wouldn't  like  to  run  the  Kernel — 
No!"  said  she  emphatically,  shaking  her  head,  and  dangling 
the  red  chenille  tassels  of  her  hair  net;  "not  ef  he  cum  on 
his  bended  knees  to  ask  me." 

The  picture  suggested  of  the  haughty,  aristocratic-looking 
Col.  Delaney  on  his  knees  to  the  wearer  of  that  pea-green  silk, 
was  too  much  for  Grace's  equanimity,  and  she  laughed  merrily. 
"And  did  you  like  the  house?"  Amy  inquired. 
"  Wai,  yes,  I  reckon   it   will  do.     I've  got   a  picter  of  it 
here.     The  Kernel  he  writ  down  on   a   card  the   name   of  a 
man  as  built  his'n,  an  I  went  to  him,  an'  he  made   this  picter 
for  me,"  drawing  from  her  pocket  the  plan  for  a  neat-looking 
frame  building,  somewhat  Southern  in  style;   "  an'  the  same 
feller  give  me  a  bill  for  the  lumber  as  would   be*  needed,  an' 
I  tuk  it  to  the  board  yard  an'  got  it  shipped,  and  then  I  cum 
on  home,  an'  brought  somethin'  for  you." 
"  For  me?  "  said  Grace  in  surprise. 

"  Yes,  for  you.  You  didn't  s'pose  1  wor  goin'  off  to 
Lauderdale  an'  Kansas  City,  to  say  nothin'  o'  Boone  county, 
an'  not  bring  back  any  thin'  for  the  purtiest  gal  in  the  Terri 
tory ;  got  the  best  manners,  too,  by  a  long  shot! " 

Grace  blushed  a  rosy  red  at  this  point,  conscious  of  the 
many  times  she  had  laughed  at  and  mimicked  the  speaker, 
although  she  had,  in  her  presence,  treated  her  with  respect, 
out  of  consideration  for  her  feelings. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  195 

"  But,  thar  now,  that  pony  's  slippin'  off  his  bridle! "  and 
the  widow,  who  had  glanced  out  of  the  window,  started  for 
the  door,  followed  by  Grace,  whose  young  feet  bounded  on 
ahead,  and  she  righted  the  bridle,  and  patted  the  pretty,  gentle 
creature,  saying,  as  the  visitor  came  up: 

"  What  a  perfect  little  beauty  she  is.  Where  did  you  get 
her? " 

"  Down  at  my  farm  in  Missoury.  There's  mighty  good 
blood  in  that  thar  pony.  She's  high  strung,  but  she's  gentle 
as  a  lamb — like  yourself,  Miss  Grace.  You  git  on  an'  try 
how  you  like  her." 

Grace  had  been  accustomed  to  riding  in  her  Ohio  home, 
and  it  required  little  persuasion  to  induce  her  to  mount  the 
gentle  animal,  who  turned  hither  and  thither  at  her  bidding, 
and  skimmed  over  the  prairie  as  lightly  as  a  bird  upon  the 
wing. 

"Oh,  Mrs.   Hardiker!"    cried  she,  coming  back,  "she  is 
too  lovely!     Did  you  bring  her  for  your  own  use?  " 
"  No;  I  brung  her  for  you." 

"For  me!"  exclaimed  the  astonished  girl,  "for  me! 
Oh,  but  that  is  too  much.  Squire  Hardiker  will  not,  perhaps, 
be  willing." 

"  Don't  you  be  skeert.  You  kin  bet  your  eyes  on  him, 
every  time!  You  see  t'wor  jest  this  way.  We  wor  settin  up, 
me  'an  him,  the  night  afore  I  went;  him  a  smokin  an'  me  a 
dippin,  an'  sez  I,  «  Sile,  that's  a  mighty  peart  gal  o'  Alden's;' 
an'  sez  he,  in  his  stutterin'  kind  of  a  way, '  Th — th — th — 
that's  so,  by  golly !'  an'  sez  1, «  She's  allurs  treated  me  white, 
an'  I'd  like  to  bring  her  a  ring,  or  a  chain,  or  a  ornament  o' 
some  kind  when  I  come  back.'  " 

" 4  N — n — no,'  sez  he,  « she  won't  like  that  so  well  as  one 
o'  them  blooded  ponies ;  the  one  I  b — b — broke  last  spring  fur 
instants,  an'  ye  know  it's  a  standin'  thar  now,  eatin'  its  own 
head  off.'  " 


196  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  Why,  is  it  vicious?  "  interrupted  Grace. 

"Lord,  no!  I  meant  eatin'  its  wuth  in  hay,  an' "oats,  an' 
corn,  an'  sez  he, «  You  go  the  whole  hog  or  nothin'.  You  jest 
git  the  chipperest  side-saddle  in  Lauderdale,  put  it  on  the 
pony,  an'  give  it  to  the  young  lady.' 

"  <  As  a  present  from  you? '  sez  I. 

" c  N — n — no,'  sez  he ;  '  from  yourself.' " 

"  Oh,  I'm  afraid  papa  will  not  allow  me  to  keep  her.  I'll 
ride  off  to  him  now,  and  ask  him,"  and  away  Grace  went 
flying  over  the  prairie — the  gentle  creature  obedient  to  the 
slightest  pull  at  the  rein — and  brought  up  by  the  side  of  her 
father,  while  Mrs.  Hardiker  and  Amy  returned  to  the  house. 

Presently  Grace  came  back,  smiling,  to  say  that  her 
father  had  compromised  the  matter  with  her,  by  allowing  her 
to  accept  the  pony  as  a  loan,  to  be  returned  in  the  fall,  or 
sooner  if  Mrs.  Hardiker  should  desire. 

"  Good  enough,"  said  the  widow  with  a  peculiar  sparkle 
in  her  black  eyes.  "  An'  me,  an'  you,  an'  Sile  aint  worth 
shucks  ef  we  can't  fix  up  a  plan  for  headin'  off  the  old  man, 
an'  'lowin'  you  to  keep  the  pony  fer  good." 

Sile  came  at  tea-time  to  carry  his  mother  home.  Amy 
invited  them  to  stay  to  supper,  and  they  did  so.  Grace  hav 
ing  accepted  a  favor  was,  as  in  duty  bound,  exceedingly 
gracious  to  them  during  the  meal,  and  also  throughout  the 
evening  which  followed.  She  discussed  with  them  the  plans 
for  building  the  new  house,  and  gave  her  opinion  unre 
servedly  as  to  furnishing  it,  and  they  took  their  leave  at  nine 
o'clock  in  a  good  humor  with  themselves,  and  of  course  with 
all  the  world  beside. 

A  few  days  after  this  visit,  they  came  again  one  afternoon 
in  their  new  spring  wagon,  to  beg  of  Grace  and  Amy  to  ride 
over  with  them  to  Calhoun,  and  assist  in  selecting  a  site  for 
the  new  residence. 

"I  jist 'lowed,"  said  the    widow  to    Grace,  "I'd   better 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  197 

come  over  an'  git  you  to  come  an'  tell  us  whar  it  oughter  set, 
an'  which  way  you'd  like  to  hev  the  front-door  open — that  is, 
if  you  wor  me." 

Amy  was  busy,  and  could  not  possibly  go.  She  doubted 
whether  Grace  ought  to  go  without  permission  from  her 
father,  and  he  had  gone  to  Warsaw.  But  Mrs.  Hardiker  in 
sisted,  the  day  was  fine,  and  Grace  thought  she  should  like  to 
have  just  one  ride  after  those  spirited  chestnuts,  so  her  mother 
finally  yielded,  and  they  drove  off  with  her  in  triumph. 

A  beautiful  spot  was  selected  as  a  site  for  the  new  house, 
on  a  gentle  eminence  within  the  limits  of  Calhoun,  and  they 
decided  in  favor  of  a  south  front.  When  this  was  attended 
to,  the  widow  got  out  at  her  own  cabin,  and  left  Sile  to  drive 
home  with  Grace  alone,  at  which  her  father  was  indignant. 
Of  course  he  brought  her  home  safely,  and  she  said  she  had 
really  enjoyed  the  drive  and  her  own  chat — for  Sile  said  noth 
ing — but  sat  listening  with  mouth  and  ears  open  to  every 
word  of  hers,  and  skillfully  guiding  his  horses  as  they  flew 
over  the  ground  with  the  speed  of  the  wind,  concluding  her 
speech  with — 

"  Now,  papa,  what  harm  is  there  in  my  riding  a  few  miles 
with  that  great  awkward  Sile  Hardiker?  I  shan't  fall  in  love 
with  him ;  to  quote  the  widow,  '  You  kin  bet  your  eyes  on 
that.' " 

"  Oh,  fie,  Grace!  "  said  Alden  impatiently.  "  Don't  use 
slang,  it's  vile  stuff  to  come  from  the  lips  of  a  lady.  Come 
here,  my  daughter."  He  had  thrown  himself  upon  the  bed, 
being  quite  weary  after  his  morning's  work  and  afternoon 
ride.  She  sat  down  on  a  chair  beside  him,  her  hat  still 
in  her  hand,  and  her  face  flushed  with  the  exhilaration 
of  that  rapid  ride. 

"  What  is  it,  papa  mine? ' 

"  Well,  my  dear,  it  is  my  opinion  Sile  Hardiker  and  his 
mother  are  very  much  in  love  with  you." 


19  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN 

"  It  won't  do  them  any  good,  or  me  much  harm,  I'm 
thinking.  I'm  already  *  bespoke.'  " 

"Aha!  engaged,  are  you.  When  did  you  arrive  at  that 
dignity,  and  which  one  of  all  the  gay  Lotharios  who  dance 
attendance  on  my  squatter  sovereign  princess  is  to  win  the 
prize  ?  " 

"  Now  papa,"  said  she,  tossing  her  head  saucily,  «  don't 
tease.  You  know  very  well  whom  you  want  me  to  marry." 

"Humph,  and  pray  how  long  since  you  divined,  Miss 
Wiseacre,  that  I  wanted  you  to  marry  anybody?" 

"  Oh,  I  can  put  this  and  that  together,  as  well  as  the  next 
one.  I  did  not  see  it,  however,  until  since  Arthur  spoke  to 
me;  but" — and  she  leaned  over  and  looked  at  him  earnestly — 
"  I  am  not  mistaken.  You  do  wish  it,  do  you  not?  " 

"  Well,  and  if  I  do,  what  of  it?  Parents'  wishes  in  this 
respect  are  not  often  regarded,"  said  John,  testily.  "Do  you 
not  love  him  ? " 

"  I  do  not  know.'' 

"Don't  know!  Well,  that  is  a  happy-go-lucky  state  of 
affairs.  I  advise  you  to  find  out  before  it  is  too  late." 

"  That  is  just  what  I've  been  trying  to  do.  I  have  talked 
with  mamma  and  Mrs.  Langtry." 

"  Oh,  ho!  been  holding  a  consultation  over  the  matter, 
have  you?" 

"  Not  exactly,"  with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders,  indicating 
annoyance,  "  but  Agnes  was  giving  me  a  history  of  her  life, 
and  I  merely  inquired  how  she  knew  that  Mr.  Langtry  was 
the  man  she  wanted  to  marry." 

"Aha!  what  a  cunning  diplomatist  it  is.  And  what  did 
she  tell  you!" 

"She  smiled,  and  said  her  own  heart  told  her  plainly 
enough." 

"And  what  said  mamma?' 

"  Why,  mamma  told  me  about  the  same  thing — but — "  and 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  199 

she  hesitated  a  little,  "  I  think  perhaps  I  am  different.  My 
happiness  is  dependent  upon  the  feelings  of  those  about  me. 
I've  tried  it  many  a  time,  this  having  my  own  way  in  spite 
of  everything,  and  it  was  always  the  same.  The  coveted 
pleasure  was  like  apples  of  Sodom,  sure  to  turn  to  dust  and 
ashes  in  my  mouth."  She  laid  her  head  upon  her  father's 
bosom  as  she  spoke,  stifling  a  little  sob,  and  he  could  not  but 
caress  the  gentle  face. 

'*  You  have  learned  that  lesson  young,  my  daughter,  but 
you  were  always  wise  beyond  your  years;"  —  and  then,  as 
she  did  not  speak  — "  if  your  mother  and  myself  desire 
your  union  with  Arthur,  and  I  will  own  to  you  that  it  has 
long  been  the  dearest  wish  of  my  heart,  it  is  because  we  believe 
it  would  be  for  your  own  good.  He  is  of  a  good  family,  and 
is  noble  and  earnest,  he  is  true-hearted,  he  is  brave,  and  what 
is  better  than  all  else,  my  dear,  he  loves  you  devotedly.  We 
are  in  no  haste  to  give  you  up;  this  cabin  would  be  a  dreary 
place  without  you.  But,  if  it  were  Arthur  who  wooed  you 
away,  if  your  home  were  near  our  own,  where  we  could  see 
you  every  day,  where  we  could  witness  the  increasing  happi 
ness  which  such  a  union  could  not  fail  to  bring,  we  should 
feel  that  we  had  indeed  not  lost  a  daughter,  but  that  we  had 
gained  a  son,  one  who  would  become  the  prop  of  our  declin 
ing  years." 

She  raised  her  head  and  looked  him  in  the  face,  her  pure 
soul  shining  from  her  eyes. 

"  Papa,  it  shall  be  as  you  wish;  I  know  you  are  right." 

John  took  the  hands  which  she  reached  forth,  tenderly  in 
his  own,  continuing: 

"  We  are  wiser  than  you  are,  my  dear.  We  have  lived 
more  years  and  seen  more  of  life,  and  it  has  been  my 
experience  that  there  is  no  happy  marriage  that  is  not  based 
on  mutual  respect  as  well  as  congeniality  of  tastes.  With 
your  inherited  sense  of  justice,  and  the  strong  influences 


2OO 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 


which  have  surrounded  you  from  your  youth  up,  I  think 
you  could  not  truly  love  one  whose  interests  and  whose  educa 
tion  led  him  to  trample  on  the  rights,  and  build  his  own 
prosperity  on  the  wrongs  of  others." 

"  You  mean  Roderick  Delaney,  papa.  He  has  never 
spoken  to  me  of  love;  I  do  not  give  my  heart  unasked." 

"  In  that  case,  my  dear,  if  the  precious  treasure  of  first  love 
is  still  within  your  keeping,  give  it  to  him  whose  soul  longs 
for  it  as  the  most  sacred  trust  under  heaven,  and  who  will 
guard  it  jealously,  as  the  one  priceless  jewel  in  his  crown 
of  life." 

"  Papa,"  said  she,  rising  and  smiling  through  the  tears 
which  dimmed  her  eyes,  "  I  may  only  think  I  love  Arthur, 
but  I  know  you  do." 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

THE    FIRST    LEGISLATURE. 

Toward  the  end  of  June  the  current  of  travel  set  in  toward 
Pawnee,  the  paper  city  on  the  verge  of  civilization  which  had 
been  designated  by  the  Governor  as  the  Territorial  capital, 
and  consequently  the  place  of  meeting  for  the  newly-elected 
Legislature. 

Pawnee  was  situated  one  mile  east  of  Fort  Riley,  and 
within  two  miles  of  the  formation  of  the  Kansas  River  by  the 
junction  of  the  Smoky  Hill  and  Republican  Forks. 

Immediately  upon  the  location  of  the  capital  at  this  point 
the  erection  of  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Terri 
torial  officers,  and  the  Legislature  had  been  begun,  and  they 
were  at  this  time  in  a  half-way  state  of  development. 

Built  of  the  native  limestome,  the  foundations  were  laid 
firm  and  solid,  the  walls  rose  broad  and  high,  they  were 
roofed  in  and  floored,  but  at  this  stage  work  had  ceased,  and 
they  were  unplastered  and  without  doors  and  windows. 

Thither  now  the  wise  Solons  of  the  Territory  were  hast 
ening,  many  of  them  from  beyond  the  muddy  waters  of  the 
Kaw.  Hither  also  on  the  morning  of  the  3Oth  of  June, 
Langtry  and  Alden,  accompanied  by  several  others  from 
Walnut  Grove  settlement,  who  were  determined  to  see  their 
legally  elected  representative  through,  in  his  endeavor  to  take 
his  rightful  place  in  the  law-making  body,  turned  their  faces. 

Sweet  Agnes  wore  a  face  shadowed  with  apprehension,  on 
that  fair  June  morning,  as  she  said  "  Good-bye,"  and  saw 

201 


2O2  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

with  tearful  eyes  her  husband  depart  on  what  to  him  was  a 
mission  of  duty  and  patriotism. 

"  Now  do  be  careful,  Edward,  and  please  say  nothing  to 
offend  the  Missourians,"  was  her  parting  injunction. 

"  I  must  speak  my  mind,  Agnes,  come  what  will,  but  do 
not  fear,  there's  more  bluster  than  bite  in  those  fellows.  I 
shall  come  back  safe,  and  George  will  care  for  you  well  in 
my  absence." 

George  was  a  younger  brother  of  Edward  Langtry's,  who 
had  recently  come  to  the  Territory,  and  he  had  promised  to 
remain  with  Agnes  during  the  absence  of  her  husband,  as  a 
protection,  and  also  to  carry  on  the  farm  work,  which  was 
assuming  quite  a  forward  shape.  He  had  likewise  agreed  to 
look  after  Alden's  stock  and  carry  his  farm  produce  with 
Langtry's  to  the  market,  and  Amy  and  Grace  thought  they 
could  manage  the  rest  for  a  short  time. 

As  for  the  travelers,  they  carried  an  abundant  supply  of 
provisions  for  a  number  of  days'  absence,  feed  for  the  horses 
when  they  should  stop  during  the  day,  and  picket  ropes  by 
which  they  could  allow  them  to  graze  on  the  luxuriant  grass 
of  the  prairies  during  the  night.  Better  than  all,  set  free 
from  the  daily  routine  of  labor  which  had  bound  them  down 
for  months,  their  spirits  rose  with  a  bound  to  the  highest  pitch 
of  enthusiasm.  As  Alden  and  Langtry  passed  by  Calhoun  on 
their  way  to  Warsaw,  they  could  see  Sile  Hardiker's  team 
drawn  up  in  front  of  his  cabin  door,  and  himself  and  Zeke 
Fagin  making  preparations  for  a  start,  and  soon  they  came 
following  on  behind,  until  our  friends  reached  Warsaw,  where 
they  halted,  and  the  Calhounites  passed  on  ahead. 

They  were  joined  here,  after  a  little  delay,  by  the  rep 
resentative  elected  from  Warsaw  on  the  2ist  of  May,  and 
also  by  a  number  of  leading  Free  State  men,  and  formed 
quite  a  procession  as  they  wound  their  way  over  hill  and 
dale  along  the  south  bank  of  the  Kaw. 


THE     SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  203 

Twelve  miles  from  Warsaw  they  reached  a  pro-slavery 
settlement  called  Lecompton,  then  consisting  of  a  few  cabins 
and  dugouts,  but  afterward  famous  as  the  capital  of  the  Ter 
ritory,  and  the  place  where  was  originated  the  famous  Pro- 
Slavery  Constitution  which  bore  its  name.  Still  journeying 
westward  from  grove  to  thicket,  over  creek  and  prairie,  now 
descending  the  precipitous  sides  of  a  ravine,  then  mount 
ing  the  opposite  bank,  and  now  following  a  trail  over  an 
ocean  of  waving  grass  and  flowers,  they  reached  Topeka;  the 
neatness  and  thriftiness  of  whose  small  number  of  collocated 
cabins  indicated  plainly  the  line  of  heredity  of  their  owners, 
and  also  gave  promise  of  the  development  which  has  since  re 
sulted. 

Here  they  were  ferried  over  the  river  on  a  large  flat-boat 
by  a  flaxen-haired,  muscular  Charon,  whose  motive  power 
was  his  own  right  arm — that  power  brought  to  bear  with  the 
least  loss,  and  in  the  right  direction,  by  an  arrangement  of 
posts  and  ropes  and  pulleys,  which  enabled  him  to  guide  his 
boat  at  will,  'gainst  wind  and  tide,  toward  either  bank. 

Safely  over,  they  pursued  their  way  along  the  north 
bank  of  the  Kaw,  and  several  miles  further  on  came  upon 
a  settlement  of  Kaw  Indians  and  half-breeds — the  remnants 
of  a  tribe  long  in  Kansas,  and  who  once  claimed  as  their 
hunting  grounds  all  those  vast  and  wide-stretching  prairies. 
Less  than  a  year  since  they  had  roamed  the  prairies  at  will — 
now  the  circle  of  restriction  was  fast  closing  round  them. 

And  now  the  way  lay  over  high  and  rolling  prairie; 
gentle  undulations,  alternating  with  wide  level  sweeps,  and 
brilliant  with  the  mingled  hues  of  grass  and  flowers. 

Here  and  there  nestled  the  little  brown  cabins  of  the  set 
tlers — stray  waifs  of  human  life  cast  by  the  waves  of  progress 
far  out  on  this  illimitable  expanse,  whose  lines  of  grandeur 
and  grace,  whose  wealth  of  coloring,  and  profusion  of  form, 
whose  clear,  pure  atmosphere  and  unrivaled  skies  bespoke  the 


204  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

impartial  hand  of  nature,  who  scatters  her  gifts  regardless 
alike  of  appreciation  or  of  use. 

Arrived  at  Pawnee,  our  friends  found  most  of  the  legisla 
tors  already  assembled.  They  found  them,  also,  something 
after  the  style  of  the  electors  who  placed  them  in  power — 
big-booted,  long-haired,  hard-featured,  and  well-armed. 

There  were  exceptions,  no  doubt;  but,  as  a  general  rule, 
even  those  professional  and  business  men  who  at  home  went 
well-clad,  had  on  this  occasion,  as  in  a  play,  assumed  the  cos 
tume  suited  to  their  part,  and  went  masquerading  in  bright 
blue  and  red  shirts,  which  gave  a  picturesqueness  to  the  scene — 
the  unusual  scene — of  legislators  assembled  for  the  grave  pur 
pose  of  making  laws  for  an  enlightened  people,  building  their 
own  camp  fires,  and  preparing  the  food  for  their  own  evening 
meal. 

One  of  the  unfinished  buildings  had  been  fitted  up  for  use 
as  a  hotel,  or  rather  eating-house,  but,  for  reasons  of  their 
own,  they  preferred  to  camp. 

And  it  was  a  scene  worthy  of  remembrance.  Three 
rough  stone  buildings,  without  windows  or  doors,  standing  in 
the  midst  of  a  plain,  which  reached  from  the  tree-fringed 
river  to  the  distant  line  of  bluffs,  whose  grey  tops  could  be 
distinctly  seen  in  the  distance. 

Here  and  there,  clustered  in  little  groups  of  six  or  seven, 
were  encamped  the  Kansas  law-makers.  The  smoke  of  the 
camp  fires  slowly  curling  upward  in  the  calm  air  of  the  sum 
mer  evening,  while  within  the  limits  of  the  encampment  the 
atmosphere  was  redolent  of  the  fumes  from  frying  bacon  and 
steaming  coffee,  which,  with  the  contents  of  the  jug,  at  inter 
vals  passed  freely  round,  formed  the  chief  elements  of  the 
evening  meal. 

The  morning  of  the  2d  of  July  dawned  fresh  and  fair,  and 
the  Legislature  proceeded  to  organize.  The  Territorial  offi 
cers,  among  whom  was  Col.  Delaney,  with  their  books,  pa- 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  2O^ 

pers,  and  other  paraphernalia  of  office,  occupied  one  building ; 
the  Council  assembled  in  another,  and  still  another  was  set 
apart  for  the  meetings  of  the  lower  House,  and  toward  the  lat 
ter,  Langtry  and  Alden  bent  their  footsteps. 

Owing  to  ignorance  of  parliamentary  law  among  the 
majority  of  its  members,  as  well  as  the  difficulty  of  recon 
ciling  the  various  conflicting  interests,  much  delay  ensued, 
and  the  day  was  consumed  in  effecting  an^  organization  by 
the  election  of  Dr.  William  H.  Stringman,  a  violent  pro- 
slavery  man  and  resident  of  a  border  settlement,  as  Speaker 
of  the  House,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Jimson  as  President  of  the 
Council. 

A  slight  acquaintance  was  sufficient  to  convince  the  Wal 
nut  Grove  men  that  other  districts  had  been  even  more 
hardly  used  than  their  own.  More  than  a  two-thirds  ma 
jority  of  the  members  they  found  to  be  not  e,ven  temporary 
residents  of  the  Territory.  This  mattered  little,  however,  as 
all  were  controlled  by  a  small  knot  of  politicians,  representa 
tives  of  the  slave  interest,  and  guiding  spirits  of  the  Blue 
Lodge,  which  had  bound  its  members  by  fearful  oaths  to 
vote,  as  well  as  act,  in  accordance  with  their  will. 

There  had  been  but  one  Free  State  man  elected  to  the 
Council,  and  that  body  made  short  work  of  expelling  him, 
and  giving  his  seat  to  his  pro-slave  competitor;  and,  on  the 
morning  of  the  3d,  the  lower  House  also  proceeded  to  purge 
itself  of  opposing  elements.  This  required  more  time,  as 
there  were  five  contesting  members  present,  with  papers, 
evidence,  and  affidavits,  which  necessitated,  at  least,  a  show 
of  examination.  On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  however,  the 
whole  matter  was  summed  up  by  Mr.  Langtry  in  a  clear 
and  concise  manner,  his  audience  sitting  impassively,  with 
faces  as  impenetrable  as  the  sphinxes  of  Egypt,  and  as  un- 
impressible.  His  well-grounded  facts,  his  forcible  arguments, 
and  his  flowers  of  speech,  alike  came  back  to  him  with  a  hoi- 


2O6  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

low  sound,  as  if  projected  against  an  adamantine  rock,  and 
immediately  on  his  conclusion,  without  attempting  to  confute 
him,  they  gave  a  unanimous  reply  in  the  shape  of  a  resolu 
tion  to  admit  the  members  elected  on  the  3Oth  of  March; 
alleging  that  they  were  the  rightful  members,  inasmuch  as 
the  Governor  had,  in  their  opinion,  no  right  under  the  or 
ganic  act  to  order  an  election,  except  in  case  of  death  or 
resignation. 

Langtry  hardly  expected  to  be  received  as  a  member; 
and  yet  he  could  not  but  entertain  some  measure  of  hope 
for  that  which  he  earnestly  desired,  and  he  did  most  ear 
nestly  wish  for  a  right  to  record  his  vote  as  a  protest  against 
the  measures  which  he  anticipated  they  had  in  view. 

And  now  there  still  remained  one  Free  State  man  in  the 
Legislative  body — the  representative  from  New  Boston — 
whom  there  was  not  the  slightest  pretext  for  displacing,  he  hav 
ing  been  elected  in  March;  but,  finding  himself  alone  and  sur 
rounded  by  a  group  of  invaders  who  had  no  right  to  legislate 
for  the  Territory,  he  offered  his  resignation,  which  was  re 
ceived  with  shouts  and  yells  of  applause;  and  soon  after  this 
dignified  body  adjourned,  and  during  the  remainder  of  the 
day  and  evening  amused  themselves  with  shooting  at  a  mark, 
games  of  cards,  etc. 

Alden  suggested  taking  shelter  for  the  night  in  the  stone 
hotel,  although  the  sky  was  clear,  and  a  myriad  silent  stars 
looked  down  with  eyes  undimmed  upon  the  scene  of  revelry 
transpiring  in  honor  of  the  anniversary  of  American  Inde 
pendence. 

"  I  am  an  old  weather  prophet,"  said  he;  "and  there  are 
certain  signs  in  the  air,  insignificant  in  themselves,  but  suffi 
cient  when  taken  together,  to  indicate  a  coming  storm." 

Acting  upon  this  advice,  the  Walnut  Grove  party  selected 
the  most  sheltered  spot  in  the  undivided  second  story  of  the 
stone  hotel,  and,  spreading  down  their  blankets,  were  soon 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  207 

asleep,  to  be  awakened  suddenly,  when  the  watches  of  the 
night  had  gained  the  wee  small  hours,  by  a  deafening  clap  of 
thunder,  followed  by  a  low,  continuous  muttering  mingled  with 
the  wild  wailing  of  the  wind,  and  the  sound  of  rain  pouring 
down  in  torrents,  while  the  continuous  flashes  of  the  forked 
lightning,  which  darted  hither  and  thither  across  the  angry 
sky,  illuminated  the  whole  country  round  with  the  brilliance 
of  noonday,  disclosing  to  their  vision  the  wise  Solons  of 
Kansas,  with  their  beds  upon  their  backs,  scampering  from 
their  camping  grounds  to  the  stone  buildings  for  protection 
from  the  elements. 

There  was  considerable  swearing  done,  and  a  number  of 
collisions  between  irascible  members  of  the  different  parties. 
But  the  morning's  sunshine  dispelled  the  clouds  from  the 
heavens  and  from  their  tempers,  and  they  proceeded  to 
business. 

Alden  and  Langtry  were  interested  in  observing  the  con 
duct  of  the  member  from  Walnut  Grove,  and  noticed  that  he 
compared  favorably  with  the  average,  having  at  least  dis 
cretion  to  keep  silent  the  unwieldy  tongue  within  his  half- 
open  mouth,  which  praiseworthy  quality,  Alden  suggested, 
"  He  must  have  inherited  from  his  father." 

The  member  from  Warsaw  was  a  semi-idiot,  whom  the 
border  ruffians  had  picked  up  on  the  outskirts  of  the  place, 
and  voted  for  with  many  a  hurrah,  for  the  express  purpose  of 
mortifying  the  radical  citizens  of  that  Free  State  burg.  He 
had  frequently  to  be  called  to  order,  his  defective,  disagreeable 
manner  of  speech  being  unendurable  to  his  colleagues. 

Being  now  duly  organized,  their  next  step  was  to  appoint 
Territorial  officers,  and  they  scrupled  not  to  appoint  their 
followers  to  every  place  of  authority  or  emolument  in  the 
Territory,  even  the  most  petty. 

Many  of  these  appointees,  among  whom  was  Zeke 
Fagin,  who  received  the  office  of  Sheriff  of  Hamilton  county 


2O8  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

—which  included  the  settlements  of  Walnut  Grove  and  War 
saw — were  residents  of  Missouri,  and  were  only  induced  to 
take  up  their  temporary  residence  in  the  Territory  by  the  gift 
of  offices  conferring  authority  or  material  reward.  And  this 
done,  they  deliberately  proceeded  to  adjourn  the  Legislature 
to  the  Shawnee  Mission,  abandoning  the  seat  of  government 
which  had  been  duly  designated  by  the  proper  power,  for  a 
place  near  the  Missouri  border,  ostensibly  in  consequence  of 
insufficient  shelter,  but  really  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
members  who  wished  to  return  to  their  homes  at  night  after 
having  spent  the  day  in  adapting  the  laws  of  Missouri  to  the 
Territory  of  Kansas. 

This  act  of  adjournment  the  Governor  vetoed,  but  with 
many  threats  of  hanging,  lynching,  and  removing  His  Ex 
cellency  in  various  ways,  they  passed  it  by  a  two-thirds  vote 
over  his  veto,  and  forthwith  took  up  their  line  of  march  for 
home.  Likewise,  so  did  our  friends,  reaching  Walnut  Grove 
about  noon  on  the  yth,  to  Mrs.  Langtry's  great  relief,  and  to 
the  joy  of  Alden's  family. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE    FOURTH    OF  JULY — RODERICK  AND  MABEL  DELANEY 

ARTHUR'S  RETURN — OF  HER  OWN  FREE  WILL. 

The  people  of  Warsaw  were  making  grand  preparations 
for  celebrating  the  Fourth  of  July.  Invitations  had  been 
sent  to  all  the  surrounding  settlements,  both  Free  State  and 
pro-slave,  to  unite  with  them  in  doing  honor  to  the  nation's 
birthday.  Nor  had  the  red  men  been  forgotten.  The  Dela- 
wares  and  Shawnees,  being  near,  and  sufficiently  civilized,  as 
was  thought,  to  understand  and  appreciate,  had  also  been 
requested  to  take  part  in  the  procession  and  exercises. 

Preparations  from  the  first  went  on  with  an  enthusiasm  un 
known  in  older  communities  where  celebrations,  processions, 
and  pageants  have  grown  to  be  an  old  story.  Every  one  was' 
willing  to  contribute  his  or  her  mite  of  money,  or  talent,  or 
labor,  for  the  entertainment  of  the  expected  assembly,  or  the 
completion  of  the  arrangements,  esteeming  it  an  honor  to  be 
called  even  to  the  humblest  service  in  the  behest  of  the  com 
mittee,  and  by  the  evening  of  the  2d  nearly  everything  was 
in  readiness. 

About  two  miles  from  Warsaw,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Areposa,  whose  course  here  reached  the  nearest  approach 
to  the  town,  a  grove  had  been  cleared  of  underbrush,  a 
speaker's  stand  erected  and  handsomely  decorated  with  ever 
greens  and  flags,  seats  of  rough  lumber  had  been  constructed 
around  it,  and  a  long  table  of  the  same  material  had  been 
built.  The  programme  of  exercises  was  arranged  and  in  the 
hands  of  the  printer;  the  various  speakers  had  been  notified 

209 


210  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

and  accepted  their  appointments,  the  toasts  with  their  replies 
were  in  readiness,  and  the  music  had  been  rehearsed  until  all 
was  as  nearly  perfect  as  possible.  Grace,  who  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  musical  coterie,  had  remained  in  Warsaw  with  a 
friend  several  days,  for  the  purpose  of  attending  rehearsals, 
and  Mrs.  Alden  had  been  down  one  day  to  assist  in  decorating 
the  stage.  It  now  only  remained  for  the  busy  housewives  to 
exert  their  culinary  skill  to  produce  from  the  limited  resources 
of  many  households  a  bountiful  and  appetizing  display  for 
the  long  dinner-table,  and  the  3d  of  July  had  been  set  apart 
for  that  purpose. 

"  You  must  wake,  and  call  me  early, 
Call  me  early,  mother  dear," 

sang  Grace,  as  she  retired  on  the  evening  of  the  2d. 

"  Indeed  I  will,"  rejoined  Mrs.  Alden,  «  for  it  will  be 
much  pleasanter  to  finish  our  work  in  the  cool  of  the  morn 
ing,  and  be  able  to  take  a  nap  in  the  afternoon,  with  the 
cheering  sense  of  duty  done,  than  to  be  worrying  over  our 
preparations  all  day." 

And  early  indeed  they  began,  for  the  mists  were  still 
lingering  on  valley  and  plain,  and  the  first  faint  tints  of  rosy 
dawn  just  peeping  above  the  distant  horizon,  when  they 
arose. 

There  was  light  bread  to  knead,  and  rolls  to  make  out, 
chickens  to  dress  and  prepare  for  roasting;  there  was  milk  to 
strain  and  put  away,  and  butter  to  churn;  there  were  dough 
nuts  to  fry  and  pies  to  bake,  and  gold  and  silver  cake  to  make 
and  to  frost,  and  the  house  to  put  in  order.  But  everything 
had  been  well  planned  beforehand,  and  all  arrangements 
worked  to  a  charm  that  morning,  as  things  sometimes  will, 
and  sometimes  will  not,  to  the  vexation  of  housekeepers.  But 
this  was  a  "red  letter"  day,  and  by  10  o'clock  the  kitchen 
table  was  a  perfect  mass  of  good  things,  all  finished  except 
the  frosting  of  the  cake,  and  Grace  sat  on  a  high  stool  with  a 


MABEL    DELANEY. 


212  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

dish  of  egg-froth  on  her  lap,  flourishing  an  egg-beater  in  her 
hand,  as  she  whipped  the  snowy  foam,  and  mingled  the  white 
sugar  and  flavoring.  Mrs.  Alden  stood  at  the  sink  per 
forming  the  less  poetic  but  equally  necessary  duty  of  washing 
up  the  plates,  and  cups,  the  bowls  and  spoons,  the  pots,  and 
kettles,  and  pans,  which  had  been  used  in  these  culinary 
operations. 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door!     Who  could  it  be? 

They  looked  at  each  other  in  dismay;  neither  felt  in  trim 
for  visitors,  but  there  was  no  escape.  The  way  to  the  upper 
chamber  lay  through  the  front  room,  and  the  front  door  was 
partially  /open  to  admit  the  morning  air.  Grace  wore  a 
light  calico  dress  with  a  neat  frill  of  lace  around  the  neck, 
her  hair  had  been  well  arranged  when  she  arose,  and  was 
gathered  in  a  braid  at  the  back,  and  tied  with  a  blue 
ribbon. 

"  You  look  well  enough,  my  dear,  go  on,"  said  Amy,  as  a 
second  knock,  louder  than  the  first,  was  heard,  and  Grace 
obediently  put  down  the  dish  and  beater,  removed  her  apron, 
and  went  to  the  door. 

Mrs.  Alden,  pausing  to  listen,  heard: 

"Why,  Mabel  Delaney!" 

"  Why,  Grace  Alden!"  and  a  dozen  kisses  were  given  and 
received  between  them,  while  a  gentleman's  voice,  which  she 
recognized  as  that  of  Roderick  Delaney,  said : 

"  Good-morning,  Miss  Alden." 

Amy's  first  thought  was  that  of  the  housekeeper: 

"How  glad  I  am  that  we  have  so  much  cooking  done; 
we  can  entertain  them  without  much  labor,  and  still  have  a 
bountiful  supply  for  the  picnic  dinner  to-morrow."  Then 
she  washed  her  hands,  brushed  her  hair  a  little,  removed  her 
work-apron  and  went  in  to  learn  that  Miss  Delaney  had 
come,  escorted  by  her  brother,  on  that  long-promised  visit. 
Mrs.  Alden  shook  hands  with  them,  and  assured  Miss  Mabel 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  2 13 

that  she  Was  very  glad  to  see  her,  as  indeed  she  was,  for  the 
young  lady,  though  brought  up  in  luxury,  and  surrounded  by 
all  that  wealth  could  bring  of  comfort  and  adornment,  had 
sufficient  culture  to  perceive  that  refinement  of  character  is 
compatible  with  narrow  and  humble  surroundings,  and,  while 
she  resisted  with  all  the  hauteur  of  a  Southern  aristocrat,  any 
assumption  of  equality  by  moneyed  coarseness,  as  in  the  case 
of  widow  Hardiker,  she  at  once  perceived  and  acknowledged 
the  social  standing  of  Grace  and  Mrs.  Alden,  and  not  once 
during  her  stay  did  she  by  word  or  look  indicate  that  she  ob 
served  any  lack  in  their  accommodations,  and  to  their  limited 
quarters,  submitted  as  gracefully  as  if  she  had  been  accustomed 
to  a  cabin  her  life  long. 

"  When  the  cat's  away  the  mice  will  play,"  said  she,  "and 
papa  having  gone  away  back  in  the  Territory  to  attend  a 
meeting  of  the  Legislature,  Roderick  and  I  thought  we  would 
follow  suit  and  run  up  here  to  spend  the  Fourth  with  you." 
"  We  hear  you  are  making  grand  preparations  for  the 
celebration,"  said  Roderick. 

"  There  will  be 'nothing  grand  about  it  in  any  sense  of  the 
word,"  replied  Amy,  "  but  the  fact  that  it  is  the  first  celebra 
tion  of  our  national  holiday  which  these  prairies  have  known, 
will  make  it  interesting." 

"  And  now  that  you  have  come,"  said  Grace  to  Mabel, 
"  I  am  sure  that  we  shall  have  a  good  time." 

"When  did  you  return?"  inquired  Mrs.  Alden  of  Rod 
erick  ;  "  we  understood  you  had  gone  to  South  Carolina." 

"  So  I  did,  but  came  back  last  week,  and  now  think  I 
shall  remain  during  the  summer." 

After  a  few  more  courteous  speeches,  Roderick  Delaney 
arose,  saying  that  he  had  business  at  Calhoun  and  at  Warsaw, 
but  would  return  early  the  next  morning,  and  hoped  to  have 
the  pleasure  of  carrying  Mrs.  Alden  and  Grace  to  the  celebra 
tion,  having  brought  the  family  carriage  for  that  purpose. 


214  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

«  That  is,"  said  he,  looking  at  Grace,  "  if  you  have  no  previous 
engagement." 

They  had  none;  Grace  had  refused  several  invitations  to 
go  alone  with  gentlemen,  and  the  tacit  agreement  she  and 
her  mother  made  to  ride  with  George  and  Agnes  Langtry. 
in  no  wise  interfered  with  their  acceptance  of  this  offer.  Soon 
after  Mr.  Delaney  took  his  leave,  and  Mrs.  Alden  went  into 
the  kitchen  to  finish  the  morning's  work  and  prepare  dinner, 
which  happily  was  a  very  small  affair,  with  so  much  in 
readiness.  Of  course,  she  excused  Grace  from  any  further 
attention  to  household  duties  for  the  day,  so,  after  changing 
her  dress,  that  young  lady  brought  down  her  fancy  work,  and 
Miss  Mabel  took  from  her  portmanteau  some  fleecy  wool  work 
which  employed  her  ringers,  while  the  two  tongues  ran  briskly, 
occasional  snatches  of  the  conversation  reaching  Amy's  ears 
as  she  busied  herself  in  the  kitchen.  She  heard  Mabel  ask : 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Fairchild  ?" 

"  In  Ohio,"  was  Grace's  reply,  "  unless  indeed,  he  is  on  his 
way  here.  He  went  on  business  which  should  have  been 
finished  by  this  time." 

"  Your  cousin,  is  he?" 

"  No,  only  an  old  friend." 

"  Do  you  know  I  think  him  very  handsome  ?  I  always  did 
like  blondes." 

"  On  the  principle  of  the  attraction  of  opposites,"  said 
Grace,  "you  are  such  a  perfect  brunette." 

"  No,"  with  a  little  laugh,  "  I  think  it  is  on  the  principle 
that  forbidden  fruit  is  always  the  sweetest." 

"And  why  is  Arthur  forbidden,  pray?"  queried  Grace, 
with  just  a  little  blush. 

"Oh,"  said  Mabel,  "papa  would  never  consent  to  my 
marrying  a  Northern  man.  We  have  such  different  views 
you  know,  unless  indeed  he  could  be  made  to  abjure  all  his 
principles  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  for  my  sake." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  215 

"And  in  that  case  you  wouldn't  want  him,"  laughed 
Grace. 

"Why  not!  I  like  what  I  like — and  perhaps  it  would 
please  me  to  have  so  much  power  over  him.  Papa  has  some 
grand  scheme  in  his  head,"  continued  she.  "  of  a  great  slave- 
holding  nation  to  be  established  on  this  continent,  after  the 
manner  of  the  ancient  republics,  with  the  negro  race  to  per- 
foim  all  the  drudgery  of  existence,  while  the  whites  devote 
themselves  to  the  higher  pursuits  of  the  arts,  literature,  science, 
and  statesmanship." 

"  Well,  I  should  say,  as  in  the  old  fable  of  the  stoning  of 
the  frogs  in  the  pond,  that  it  might  be  fun  for  us,  but  death  to 
the  blacks." 

"  Roderick  says  it  wouldn't  be  good  for  us.  He  says  that 
coming  to  Kansas  has  opened  his  eyes,  and  he  sees  a  hundred 
flaws  in  the  fair  fabric  which  he  had  been  taught  to  revere  as 
perfect." 

To  this,  Grace  made  no  reply,  and  presently  Miss  Delaney 
inquired : 

"Are  there  many  young  people  up  this  way  ? " 
"A  great  many  young  men,  but  few  young  ladies." 
"  Will  they  have  dancing  to-morrow  ?  " 
u  Not  until  evening ;  it  is   too  warm  >in  the  middle  of  the 
day,  even  in  the  woods." 

And  thus  they  chatted  on,  darting  from  one  subject  to 
another,  as  the  birds  do  from  branch  to  branch — now  soaring 
aloft  to  the  domain  of  poetry  and  art,  and  anon  descending  to 
fancy  work  and  fashions. 

After  dinner  they  went  upstairs  for  an  afternoon  siesta, 
descending  again,  at  tea-time,  fresh  and  fair,  in  the  light,  fleecy 
robes  of  summer,  and  with  sparkling  eyes  and  merry  voices. 

After  a  lunch,  all  went  outside  to  enjoy  the  cool  breezes, 
which  invariably  come  with  the  setting  sun. 

And  now  another  glad  surprise  awaited  them.      With  the 


2l6  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

lengthening  of  the  shadows  and  the  falling  of  the  dew,  there 
came  a  distant  footstep,  growing  nearer — nearer  still — then  a 
shadowy  form  appeared,  coming  toward  them  in  the  twilight. 
A  moment  more: 

"'Tis  Arthur! — yes,  'tis  Arthur! — he  is  here."  Grace 
sprang  up  with  a  glad  cry,  and  then,  remembering  the  pres 
ence  of  her  visitor,  restrained  somewhat  the  exuberance  of  her 
joy;  and  Mrs.  Alden  was  the  first  to  grasp  him  by  the  hand 
with  words  of  greeting,  then  Grace,  and  then  Miss  Delaney. 

He  had  arrived  in  Warsaw  by  the  evening's  stage,  en 
gaged  a  man  with  a  team,  to  bring  him  up  to  his  own  claim, 
and  had  passed  by  while  they  were  at  tea. 

"  Did  he  not  want  some  supper?  "  Amyjnquired. 

"  No;  he  had  eaten  while  in  Warsaw,  and  had  no  need  of 
anything  to-night." 

Now,  a  shadow  had  fallen  upon  his  face,  and  the  smile 
with  which  he  had  first  come  toward  them  had  faded,  and  he 
had  assumed  his  most  reticent  and  unresponsive  mood.  It 
was  impossible,  however,  to  resist  long  the  fascinations  of 
Miss  Delaney,  so  frank  and  pleasing  were  her  manners,  so 
brilliant  her  wit,  so  easy  the  flow  of  her  conversation. 

It  was  as  if  her  whole  nature  had  been  warmed  and  mel 
lowed  by  the  tropical  sun,  until  it  had  become  the  source  of 
life-giving  light  and  heat. 

And  as  for  Grace,  gayer  even  than  her  wont,  she  laughed 
and  talked,  she  played  on  the  guitar  and  sang;  and  the  trio, 
so  far  as  outward  appearances  could  indicate,  passed  a  very 
pleasant  evening. 

At  parting,  Miss  Delaney  inquired  of  Arthur, "  If  he  were 
going  to  the  celebration  in  the  morning  ? " 

"  Indeed  I  am,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  hastened  my  return 
for  that  purpose,  and  I  will  drive  over  in  the  morning  to  carry 
you  all  down  to  Warsaw.  Shall  I  not,  Grace?  "  looking  at 
her  directly,  but  Miss  Mabel  answered: 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  You're  too  late!  You  can't  have  Grace,  for  she  prom 
ised  brother  Roderick  this  morning  to  ride  with  him,  and 
so  did  Mrs.  Alden." 

"  Too  late,  am  I ! "  looking  at  Grace,  who  only  blushed 
and  gave  an  affirmative  nod,  and  he  turned  away,  with 
some  light  remark.  Then,  as  if  the  thought  struck  him,  he 
said  to  Miss  Delaney: 

"And  how  is  it  with  you?     Did  you  promise  Mr.  Delaney 
also?" 

"  He  did  not  ask  me,"  said  she,  playfully. 

"  Well,  then,  Miss  Delaney,  can  I  have  the  pleasure  of 
escorting  you  to  the  celebration  to-morrow?  " 

"  With  the  greatest  pleasure,  Mr.  Fairchild,"  bowing;  and 
then,  "  It  is  better  to  be  second  choice  than  no  choice  at 
all,"  looking  mischievously  at  Grace,  and  soon  after  Arthur 
took  his  leave. 

Morning  dawned  with  a  cloudy  sky — a  pleasant  fact  in 
itself — for  the  rays  of  the  summer  sun  are  vastly  more 
agreeable  when  tempered  by  an  intervening  mass  of  vapor. 

"  If,"  as  the  girls  said,"  we  could  but  be  sure  that  it  would 
remain  in  suspense,  and  not  come  showering  down  to  the 
disarrangement  of  our  attire  and  plans." 

But  they  would  not  allow  fears  of  rain  to  detain  them, 
and  were  in  readiness,  as  girls  usually  are,  when,  at  8 
o'clock,  Roderick  Delaney  drove  up  with  his  carriage;  and  at 
the  same  moment,  from  an  opposite  direction,  came  Arthur 
with  his  wagon. 

A  slight  shade  of  disappointment  was  visible  on  the  face 
of  Miss  Mabel,  as  she  noted  that  the  back  seat  in  the  vehicle 
was  already  filled  by  George  and  Mrs.  Langtry.  She  said 
nothing,  however,  and  received  politely  an  introduction  to 
them,  given  by  Arthur,  who  had  alighted,  and  said  "  Good- 
morning"  to  all,  and  who  then  assisted  her  to  a  seat  beside 
himself,  while  Grace  and  Mrs.  Alden  entered  the  carriage 


2lS  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

with  Roderick,  and  the  provisions  were  stored  away  in  both 
vehicles. 

The  carriage  was  easy  and  comfortable,  the  roads  were  in 
good  condition,  and  the  horses  trotted  swiftly  along.  On 
either  side  of  the  way  might  be  seen  small  oases  of  waving 
corn,  which  betokened  the  ready  hands  of  earnest  workers. 

Roderick  Delaney  was  in  his  most  pleasing  mood,  and  the 
slight  shadow  of  unrest  which  a  look  of  sad  reproach  from 
Arthur  had  cast  over  the  sunshiny  nature  of  Grace,  grad 
ually  lifted,  and  Mrs.  Alden  and  she  both  partook  of  the  ir 
resistible  contagion  of  his  cheerfulness. 

As  they  neared  Warsaw  they  found  teams  of  every  de 
scription,  from  the  light  buggy  to  the  heavy  wagon  drawn 
by  strong-shouldered  oxen,  decorated  with  waving  branches 
of  green  leaves  and  flowers,  and  gay  with  ribbons  and  flags, 
pouring  in  from  every  direction,  and  by  10  o'clock  from 
fifteen  hundred  to  two  thousand  people  were  assembled  on 
the  principal  avenue.  The  newly-organized  military  were 
drawn  up  in  line,  and  a  lady  stepped  forward  on  a  platform 
erected  for  the  purpose,  and  gracefully  presented  to  them  a 
beautiful  American  flag;  to  be  borne,  she  said,  "  Where  the 
battle  for  the  right  is  thickest." 

It  was  accepted  by  a  member  of  the  company,  with 
thanks  for  the  honor  conferred;  and  then,  headed  by  the 
band,  the  military  led  the  way,  and  the  long  procession  of 
wagons  and  carriages,  and  men  and  women  on  horseback, 
formed  in  line,  and  followed  to  the  grove,  situated  about  two 
miles  from  the  town. 

After  the  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and 
the  singing  of  the  national  hymn, 

"  My  country,  'tis  of  thee,"  " 

followed  the  oration  of  the  day  by  the  Free  State  leader,  Dr. 
Francis  Rulison.  It  was  a  masterly  speech,  delivered  in  the 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  219 

Doctor's  clear,  cool,  unimpassioned  tones,  and  produced  a 
wonderful  effect;  many  of  those  present,  immigrants  from 
Southern  States,  hearing,  for  the  first  time,  a  concise  state 
ment  of  the  arguments  against  slave  labor.  Then  the  Doc 
tor  read  extracts  from  speeches  and  letters  of  Southern  men  of 
education  and  influence,  delivered  and  written  at  various  times 
and  places,  forming  a  complete  condemnation  of  the  system, 
and  that  from  their  own  mouths;  after  which,  the  subject  of 
the  position  of  Kansas,  in  regard  to  the  encroachments  of  a 
neighboring  State,  was  touched  upon,  and  the  firm  determi 
nation  expressed  to  assert  and  maintain  the  right  of  Ameri 
can  citizens  upon  the  national  territory. 

The  orator  was  in  earnest.  This  regnant  calmness  was 
but  the  restrained  power  of  a  soul  which  comprehended  the 
greatness  of  the  crisis  which  was  upon  the  land.  He  discerned 
the  hidden  rocks  upon  which  shallow  counsels  would  have 
wrecked  the  bark,  the  rapids  upon  which  a  rash  precipitation 
would  have  plunged  it,  and  he  saw  as  well,  the  open  sea 
beyond,  to  which  firmness  and  moderation  and  patience  would 
lead,  when  the  gathering  storm  had  been  weatl^ered. 

Roderick  Delaney  had  listened  with  a  thoughtful  ex 
pression  on  his  face,  while  the  speaker  made  point  after  point 
in  favor  of  making  Kansas  a  Free  State;  but  that  expression 
now  changed  to  one  of  rapturous  delight  when,  at  its  close, 
the  clear  voice  of  Grace  rang  out  with  surprising  sweetness 
in  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner,"' the  full  choir  joining  in  the 
chorus. 

She  had  stepped  forward  a  little  as  she  began  to  sing,  and 
stood  beneath  the  arch  of  evergreen,  a  vision  of  girlish  love 
liness,  simply  clad,  in  a  dress  of  white  Swiss  muslin,  tucked  to 
the  waist,  a  sash  of  blue,  blue  ribbons  at  her  throat,  and  a  blue 
tie  confining  the  long  brown  hair  which  was  drawn  back 
in  waving  ripples  from  her  forehead,  and  hung  in  a  heavy 
braid. 


22(3  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

The  brown  eyes  sparkling,  and  the  trills  of  song  gushing 
forth  on  the  still  summer  air,  seemed  to  reach  the  depths  of 
Roderick  Delaney's  heart.  He  stood  as  one  entranced,  listen 
ing  till  the  last  note  died  away.  Arthur  Fairchild,  too, 
listened,  but  his  attention  was  divided  between  the  young 
Southerner  and  Grace.  His  eyes  wandered  from  one  to  the 
other  as  if  seeking  to  divine  their  feelings,  or  to  perceive  any 
exchange  of  glances  or  recognition  between  them ;  but  there 
was  none.  Grace  seemed  perfectly  unconscious  of  every 
thing  but  the  words  and  melody  of  the  song  to  which  she 
was  endeavoring  to  give  expression. 

Next  in  order  came  speeches  of  welcome  to  the  whites, 
from  the  chiefs  of  the  Shawnees  and  Delawares. 

"  They  were  glad  to  see  the  white  man  coming,  not  with 
the  hatchet  and  sounds  of  war,  but  bringing  the  sweet  fruits 
of  peace  and  civilization." 

Then  followed  Whittier's  gem  of  a  Kansas  song,  written 
expressly  for  emigrants  from  the  North. 

The  words  had  been  printed  on  slips  of  paper,  distributed 
among  those  assembled,  and  as  the  air  was  a  familiar  one, 
many  voices  joined  the  choir  in  singing : 

"  We  cross  the  prairies  as  of  old 

The  Pilgrims  crossed  the  sea, 
To  make  the  West,  as  they  the  East, 

The  homestead  of  the  free." 

This  closed  the  exercises  for  the  morning,  and  Arthur 
stepped  forward  hastily  to  assist  Grace  in  descending  from  the 
platform,  but  he  was  a  moment  too  late.  Roderick  Delaney 
was  before  him,  and  Grace  had  accepted  his  proffered  arm, 
and  descended  the  steps  before  she  saw  Arthur,  and  then  it 
was  Mabel's  voice  saying,  mockingly,  "  Too  late  again,  Mr. 
Fairchild,"  which  attracted  her  attention,  and  she  heard  and 
felt  what  Mabel  did  not,  the  bitterness  in  his  voice  as  he  re 
plied,  "  Yes,  it  seems  so;  my  fate,  it  appears."  He  turned 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  221 

away  toward  a  group  of  gentlemen  who  were  conversing  at 
some  little  distance,  found  Mr.  Benty,  took  a  short  walk  with 
him,  and  evidently  came  to  some  understanding  with  the 
gentleman  from  Boston,  for  soon  after,  giving  him  an  intro 
duction  to  Miss  Delaney,  Arthur  disappeared.  Mr.  Benty 
was  a  very  agreeable  gentleman,  and  his  attentions,  as  well 
as  those  of  several  others  to  whom  she  was  now  introduced, 
seemed  fully  to  console  Mabel  for  this  desertion  by  her  escort. 
A  number  of  pleasant  ladies  had  joined  Mrs.  Alden's  group, 
among  them  the  intelligent  and  lovely  wife  of  Dr.  Rulison, 
and  together  they  stood  chatting,  while  the  busy  Marthas 
of  the  occasion,  unfolding  the  tablecloths,  and  uncovering 
the  well-filled  baskets,  placed  their  contents  upon  the  long 
table. 

"Why,  there's   that  horrid    woman  who   called   at  our 
house  in  Lauderdale,  some  time  ago,"  said  Mabel  to  Grace. 
"  Ah,  where?" 

"  Under  that  large  tree,  to  the  right  of  the  stage.  Horror! 
she's  coming  this  way!" 

And,  looking  in  the  direction  indicated,  Grace  and  her 
mother  recognized  at  the  same  moment  Mrs.  Hardiker  in  her 
pea-green  silk  and  pink  crepe  bonnet  making  her  way  to 
ward  them  as  fast  as  her  stays  and  her  fyoops  would  permit. 

"  Oh,"  said  Grace,"  that  is  a  neighbor  of  ours;"  and  to 
Roderick,  who  was  laughing  at  the  incongruity  of  the  dress 
and  the  wearer,  "  A  product  of  your  Southern  institutions, 
Mr.  Delaney.  How  do  you  like  the  style? " 

"  Abnormal,  I  assure  you,"  was  his  reply,  and  at  this 
moment,  the  widow,  whose  restless,  piercing  eyes  had  been 
wandering  over  the  group,  espied  Grace,  and  darted  down 
upon  her  as  upon  some  recovered  treasure. 

"  Wai,  here  ye  air  at  last!  I've  been  lookin'  for  ye  high 
an7  low  ever  sence  the  singin'  was  done.  Why,  the  land 
sakes!  Mr.  Delaney!  Whar  did  you  come  from,  and  with 


222  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

Grace,  too!  Whar's  yer  mar?"  to  Grace.  Amy  came  for 
ward  to  speak  to  her,  just  as  Mabel  Delaney  deliberately 
turned  her  back.  The  quick  eyes  of  the  widow  had  caught 
the  motion,  and,  tossing  her  head  with  a  don't-care  sort  of 
air,  she  ejaculated: 

"  She  needn't  be  skeert.  I  wouldn't  tech  her  with  a 
ten -foot  pole." 

Her  voice  was  loud  and  coarse  in  its  tones,  and  of  course 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  group,  though  they  were  too 
well-bred  to  laugh,  on  Mabel's  account,  who,  with  Mr. 
Benty,  now  moved  off  to  some  distance. 

"  Interdoose  me  to  the  quality,"  said  the  widow,  in  a. 
stage  whisper.  Mrs.  Alden  hesitated  a  moment,  hardly 
knowing  whether  it  would  be  agreeable  to  the  ladies,  but, 
with  the  utmost  ease  and  coolness,  Grace  turned  to  the 
company: 

"  Ladies  and  gentlemen,"  said  she,  "  allow  me  to  introduce 
to  you  a  neighbor  and  friend  of  ours — Mrs.  Hardiker — 
the  mother  of  our  member  of  the  Legislature"  Of  course 
the  ladies  bowed,  and  the  widow  proceeded  to  make  herself 
"  to  hum  with  'em." 

"  Powerful  crowd  here  to-day ;  'pears  a'most  like  circus 
day  in  Boone  county,  with  sich  a  comin'  an'  goin',  an'  the 
music  a  playinV 

"  Yes,  indeed;  quite  a  large  gathering  for  a  new  country," 
replied  some  one. 

"  I  wor  bound  fur  to  cum.  I  allers  like  to  tend  all  the 
goins'  on — never  missed  a  circus  yet,  as  I  knows  on." 

"  Glad  you  did.  We  were  anxious  to  have  all  the  settlers 
unite  with  us  in  this  celebration,  regardless  of  their  political 
affiliations,"  said  Mrs.  Rulison,  good-naturedly. 

This  was  sufficient  encouragement  for  the  widow,  and 
she  proceeded  with  a  monologue  of  her  experiences  and 
opinions,  which  amused  the  company  highly;  even  including 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  22$ 

Miss  Mabel,  who,  with  her  escort,  presently  returned  to  learn 
the  cause  of  the  shouts  of  laughter,  which  greeted  her  comical 
utterances  and  ludicrous  manner  when  "ridin'  on  her  high  hoss." 

When  a  fine-looking  gentleman  who  loved  fun,  and  en 
joyed  the  study  of  new  types,  offered  her  his  escort  to  the 
dinner  table,  the  widow  felt  that  her  debut  in  Warsaw  society 
was  indeed  a  success.  She  had  achieved  an  intimacy  with  the 
highest,  at  a  bound,  and  the  pink  crepe  hat,  and  the  pea-green 
silk,  were  valued  accordingly  as  accessories  to  this  delightful 
consummation,  and  perhaps  they  were;  the  whole  is  made  up 
of  minute  portions,  each  indispensable  in  its  place. 

Roderick  gave  his  arm  to  Mrs.  Alden  and  Grace,  and 
they  took  their  places  at  the  table  only  to  fill  their  plates  and 
move  away  to  find  seats  at  some  distance,  thus  giving  place 
to  others. 

Liberal  as  the  provision  of  table  room  had  been,  it  was 
insufficient  to  accommodate  all. 

Quite  a  number  of  friends  soon  joined  their  group,  and  it 
was  interesting  to  sit  and  watch  the  crowd,  they  differed  so 
widely  in  appearance,  costume,  gait  and  manners.  Besides, 
there  were  Indians,  most  of  whom  were  gaily  dressed  in  bead- 
trimmed  mantles,  feathers  and  moccasihs,  an  eager  expression 
lighting  up  their  saturnine  countenances,  as  their  eyes  rested 
on  the  variety  and  delicacy  of  the  food  prepared  for  the 
guests  at  "  the  whtfe  man's  feast." 

Grace's  usual  score  of  admirers  were  clustered  round  Mabel, 
while  her  brother  with  his  imperious  air  seemed  satisfied  by 
monopolizing  Grace.  But  he  could  not  keep  her  thoughts 
from  straying;  though  he  exerted  himself  more  than  he  had 
ever  done,  her  eyes  would  go  wandering  off,  and  even  the 
most  brilliant  sallies  of  wit  failed  to  provoke  the  wonted 
repartee,  the  burden  of  reply  falling  to  Mrs.  Langtry  and 
Mrs.  Alden. 

With   a   mother's  instinct   Amy    divined    her    daughter's 


224  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

thoughts,  and  her  own  sympathies  also  went  out  to  the  one 
who  was  groping  his  way  miserably,  and  in  the  cold  and 
darkness,  when  the  lifting  of  the  slight  shadow  of  misunder 
standing  would  restore  him  to  warmth,  and  light,  and  love. 
When  the  dinner  was  over  and  the  dishes  returned  to  the 
table,  a  member  of  the  committee  of  arrangements  approached 
Mr.  Delaney  with  a  request  that  he  would  reply  to  an 
impromptu  toast,  and  the  two  moved  off  together,  to  consult. 

Mrs.  Alden  whispered  to  Grace:  "  Let  us  go  and  find  him  " 
— and  aloud  to  Mrs.  Langtry:  "  If  Mr.  Delaney  returns  be 
fore  we  do,  take  good  care  of  him."  Grace  arose  hastily,  put 
her  arm  within  her  mother's,  and  they  moved  away  in  the 
direction  Arthur  had  taken  more  than  an  hour  before. 

"  He  should  not  be  so  impatient,  mamma,"  said  Grace. 
"  I  have  had  no  opportunity  to  speak  to  him.  He  ought  to 
see  that." 

"  Of  course  he  ought,  my  dear,  and  I  presume  he  does. 
I  do  not  think  he  went  away  in  a  spirit  of  resentment, 
but  only  because  he  misunderstood  your  relations  with  Mr. 
Delaney,  and  could  bear  no  longer  to  see  you  with  him,  and 
himself,  as  it  seemed,  put  on  one  side  completely." 

"  If  he  only  knew  how  unhappy  I  have  been  all  the 
morning,"  said  Grace,  still  hurrying  on. 

"Tell  him  so  then,  and  it  will  be  all  right.  Arthur  is 
too  generous  to  wish  you  to  be  unhappy." 

"  And  lam  sure  I  cannot  be  happy  when  he  is  miser 
able,"  said  Grace. 

"  There  is  a  beautiful  dell  up  here,  somewhere — we  have 
visited  it  several  times  in  search  of  flowers.  I  think,  perhaps, 
we  shall  find  him  there;"  and  she  led  the  way  down  by  the 
creek,  along  a  little  path  which  wound  through  the  thick  un 
derbrush  and  heavy  growth  of  young  plum  trees,  to  a  ravine 
which  had  been  spanned  by  a  fallen  tree,  and  there,  beyond, 
in  a  more  open  space,  where  the  grass  was  green  and  the 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 


225 


flowers  starting  up  in  clusters,  where  the  birds  were  darting 
hither  and  thither  with  a  little  note  of  pain  or  affright  at  his 
presence,  stood  Arthur,  leaning  his  weight  heavily  upon  a 
low  branch  of  a  large  tree.  His  face  was  turned  from  them, 
but  his  whole  attitude  was  that  of  despair,  his  head  bowed 
down  as  if  crushed  with  the  weight  of  a  heavy  blow. 

One  glance  was  enough  for  the  tender  heart  of  Grace. 
Love  hath  a  thousand  forms  of  attraction.  Sweet  pity,  true 
respect,  a  deep  sense  of  the  value  of  the  unchangeable  affec 
tion  which  had  long  lain  like  a  precious  jewel  at  her  feet, 
tender  memories  of  the  past,  a  thousand  pleasures  shared  in 
common,  all  impelled  her  toward  him  with  swift  feet.  Her 
light  steps  passed  quickly  over  nature's  foot-bridge  at  which 
Amy  halted. 

"Arthur!"   she  called. 

He  turned,  his  face  lighted  up  at  the  sound  of  her  voice. 

"Arthur!     I  am  come  to  you  of  my  own  free  will." 

He  stood  erect.  The  electric  thrill  of  hope  once  more 
animated  his  form.  His  unstrung  nerves  recovered  their 
tension.  Despair  fell  away  like  a  cast  off  garment,  as  he 
stepped  forward  to  meet  her,  and  opened  his  arms. 

And  the  sun  shone  out  with  brilliant  flash,  illuminating 
the  whole  atmosphere,  the  birds  broke  forth  in  a  carol  of 
gladness,  the  waters  of  the  little  creek  rippled  sweet  music,  and 
amid  the  leaves  of  the  trees  shimmering  in  the  sunshine,  the 
winds  murmured  soft  and  low:  "  Love  is  joy,  love  is  joy." 

Mrs.  Alden  turned,  and  found  her  way  back  alone  to  the 
company.  Mrs.  Langtry  was  with  Mabel,  and  Roderick 
Delaney  was  on  the  stand  in  the  midst  of  a  brilliant  reply  to 
a  sentiment  concerning  the  perpetuity  of  the  American  Union, 
which  was  received  with  rounds  of  applause. 

Mrs.  Hardiker,  her  passion  for  the  direction  of  affairs 
strong  within  her,  superintended,  with  well-received 
officiousness,  the  removing  of  the  remains  of  the  dinner  and 


226  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

the  repacking  of  the  dishes;  and  when  Mr.  Delaney  had  con 
cluded,  said  to  Mrs.  Alden  who  had  returned,  and  was  collect 
ing  her  own  dishes  and  replacing  them  in  the  baskets: 

"  Thar  ain't  much  diffrunce  'atween  we'uns  an'  you'uns, 
'ceptin'  the  grammer,  an'  I  reckon  that  don't  count  for  much," 
and  Amy  agreed  with  her. 

Perhaps  an  hour,  perhaps  more,  elapsed,  before  Grace  and 
Arthur  returned,  and  there  was  a  smile  on  both  faces,  a  look 
of  peace  on  Arthur's,  as  if  the  angel  of  hope  had  cast  her 
joyous  spell  upon  him,  and  as  for  Grace,  the  old  light- 
hearted,  merry  mood  had  returned  to  her.  She  was  again 
at  one  with  those  nearest  and  dearest  to  her. 

And  now  there  were  no  more  misunderstandings.  When 
Arthur  Fairchild  received  from  Grace  Alden's  own  lips  the 
assurance  that  his  happiness  was  dearer  to  her  than  that  of 
any  other,  there  was  no  room  for  doubt  or  jealousy  in  his 
breast.  The  demons  were  cast  out,  and  nevermore  found 
resting  place  therein. 

When  Roderick  Delaney  came  toward  them,  with  others, 
to  rally  the  runaways,  did  some  subtle  influence  convey  to 
him  the  fact  that  there  was  a  change  in  their  relations?  Per 
haps  so,  for  hereafter,  although  he  redoubled  his  attentions  to 
Grace,  as  one  grasps  for  a  possession  which  is  being  borne 
beyond  his  sight,  there  was  a  tacit  acknowledgement  of 
Arthur's'  right  to  share  in  her  smiles.  Yet,  this  might  have 
been  only  because  Arthur  claimed  that  as  a  right,  which  he 
had  hitherto,  in  Mr.  Delaney's  presence,  suffered  to  go  by 
default. 

Mabel  was  happy,  surrounded  by  admirers,  and  pressed 
with  invitations  to  dance.  She  was  in  her  element,  nor  did 
it  detract  from  her  pleasure  that  she  was  enabled  to  punish 
Arthur  for  his  desertion  of  the  morning,  by  saying  "  en 
gaged,"  when  he  preferred  a  request  for  a  quadrille. 

And  so  the  evening,  and  in  fact,  the  night,  passed  away; 
I 


TJ1E    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  227 

the  first  faint  approaches  of  the  dawn  being  heralded  by 
rosy  fingers  in  the  east,  when  our  party  reached  home  after 
the  long  drive.  Having  dissipated  the  restful  hours  of 
night,  they  were  fain  to  borrow  of  the  day  that  they  might 
settle  the  scores  of  nature  with  their  weary  frames. 

Mabel  remained  with  the  Aldens  until  the  morning  of 
the  6th;  both  Roderick  and  Arthur  coming  in  to  spend  the 
evening  of  the  5th.  Mr.  Benty  came  also,  his  Boston  re 
serve  seeming  to  be  completely  melted  by  the  witching 
manners  of  this  Southern  beauty.  Agnes  and  Amy  enjoyed 
the  evening  as  much  as  did  the  young  people.  Mrs.  Alden's 
own  youth  came  back  to  her  in  the  bonny  loveliness  of  her 
daughter. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

PREPARATIONS     FOR     THE     WEDDING — THE      BOGUS      LEGIS 
LATURE THE       JEWELED      HAND      THAT     MOVES      THE 

PUPPETS RODERICK       IN       OPPOSITION CAPITAL       OF 
FENCES TESTS    FOR    JURORS LEGISLATION    INDORSED 

BY    SUPREME    COURT LANGTRY's    CIRCULAR. 

And  now,  for  a  brief  happy  time,  the  current  of  life  with  the 
Aldens  moved  on  in  waves  as  gentle  and  as  smoothly-flowing 
as  the  bright  waters  of  the  placid  river  changing  its  course  with 
every  undulation  of  the  land,  and  bearing  its  modest  offering 
to  the  sea.  So  bright  were  the  skies  above  them,  so  genial  the 
atmosphere  of  the  little  home  which  they  had  reared  in  this 
new  land,  so  radiant  the  future  with  its  promises  of  a  compe 
tence,  that  it  was  to  John  and  Amy  as  if  they  had  drank  of 
the  elixir  of  life,  whose  reviving  power  had  not  only  per 
meated  and  renewed  every  atom  of  their  bodies,  but  restored 
the  old-time  spirit  of  buoyancy  to  their  souls. 

Together,  one  in  purpose  as  in  heart,  a  mutual  confidence 
and  trust,  born*  of  trial  and  separation,  and  fur  surpassing  in 
depth  and  fervency  the  passion  of  youth,  possessed  them; 
broad  lands,  their  very  own,  with  smiling  wheat-fields,  a 
small  earnest  of  great  things  to  come,  already  ripening  for 
the  harvest;  their  only  child,  their  joy,  their  blessing,  about 
to  be  wedded  to  one  whom  they  could  receive  with  pride  and 
heartfelt  satisfaction  as  a  son,  what  could  they  ask  for  more! 
The  time  for  the  union  had  with  one  consent  been  set  for  the 
coming  autumn.  Arthur's  parents  had  been  written  to,  and 

226 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  231 

a  cordial  approval  and  congratulations  received.  They  also 
mentioned  a  modest  sum,  which  was  at  his  disposal,  sufficient 
to  enable  him  to  build  a  comfortable  house  for  his  bride,  and 
put  his  claim  in  good  working  order. 

A  mind  at  ease  has  a  wonderful  tendency  to  develop 
working  power.  Doubt  restrains.  Hope  allures,  but  certainty 
of  reward  removes  all  pressure,  and  mind  and  body  spring  to 
their  allotted  task  with  faculties  in  the  full  plenitude  of  their 
powers.  In  the  sunshine  of  assured  love,  Arthur  Fairchild 
discovered  a  strength  of  purpose,  a  concentration  of  will  and 
energy,  before  which  difficulties  melted  away  as  the  mists 
before  the  rising  sun.  A  lime-kiln,  long  contemplated,  soon 
rose  on  his  claim,  and  was  in  successful  operation.  A  stone- 
quarry  was  opened  on  a  bluff  to  the  south,  where  the  white 
building  stone  lay  invitingly  near  the  surface,  and  men  were 
at  work  quarrying  stone  for  his  new  house ;  for,  after  many 
consultations  with  the  young  mistress  that  was  to  be,  it  was 
decided  that  it  should  be  of  stone,  substantially  built,  and  in 
such  a  shape  that  additions  could  be  readily  made.  Breaking 
was  begun,  that  the  sod  might  be  turned  over  and  exposed  to 
the  mellowing  rays  of  the  sun  and  air,  to  be  in  readiness  for 
fall  plowing  and  seeding.  Nor  was  this  all ;  his  exuberant 
energies,  overflowing  the  narrow  bound  of  selfish  interests? 
carried  their  freshness  and  zeal  to  the  field  of  politics,  and  the 
Free  State  cause  had  no  more  eloquent  or  more  fearless  advocate. 

But  at  present,  the  star  of  love  was  in  the  ascendant. 
The  long  bright  days  of  July  and  August  were  full  of  happy 
work,  and  the  glorious  evenings,  when  the  deep  blue  vault  of 
heaven  was  iridescent  with  a  million  diamond  points,  or 
when  the  fair  moon  rode  in  stately  magnificence  o'er  a  tran 
quil  sky,  illuminating  the  landscape  with  a  silvery  radiance, 
and  the  south  wind,  balmy  and  cool,  tempered  the  heat  of  day 
and  recuperated  the  wasted  energies — these  evenings  were 
sacred  to  the  quiet  joys  of  affection. 


232  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

But  now  and  then  there  vibrated  upon  this  harmony  a 
strain  of  discord  from  without,  which  rasped  the  nerves  and 
stirred  the  fountains  of  indignation  to  their  depths;  a  wail 
from  homeless  settlers  on  the  west,  the  smoke  of  whose  burn 
ing  cabins  rose  like  a  cloud  in  the  clear  sky,  the  flames  lit  by 
the  hand  of  Zeke  Fagin,  who  alleged,  to  certain  Missouri 
friends  of  his,  a  prior  right  to  the  claims,  and  enforced  that 
right  with  the  torch  of  the  incendiary. 

From  the  East,  through  Langtry,  on  whom  the  spell  of 
a  high  mission  lay  heavily,  dwarfing  all  minor  interests,  came 
the  tale  of  a  mockery  of  justice.  He  had  gone  to  Shawnee 
Mission,  after  a  day  or  two  spent  at  home,  drawn  thither 
irresistibly  as  the  moth  to  the  candle,  by  a  strong  interest  in 
the  action  of  the  Legislature,  and  letters  came  from  time  to 
time  to  Alden,  and  to  the  Association,  containing  a  full  ac^ 
count  of  the  proceedings. 

He  wrote: 

"  When  I  look  around  upon  the  countenances  of  the  men  assembled 
here  to  give  the  laws  and  form  the  institutions  of  this  embryo  State  of 
ours;  when  I  listen  to  their  conversation,  and  learn  the  motives  which 
govern  them,  it  i ;  bard  to  realize  that  we  are  still  within  the  limits  of  our 
own  country,  whose  political  ideal,  we  have  supposed,  was  equal  rights 
and  protection  to  all  her  citizens,  or  that  we  are  within  the  dominion 
of  that  law  which  was  founded  upon  a  recognition  of  the  sacred- 
ness  and  inviolability  of  human  rights.  What  can  more  forcibly 
illustrate  the  p  ofound  debasement  to  which  the  slave  system  tends, 
than  the  fact  that  those  usurping  legislators  confidently  expect  that 
an  adoption  of  a  rigid  and  barbarous  slave-code  will  effectually  banish 
from  the  Territory  all  Abolitionists,  and  bar  the  entrance  of  those 
yet  to  come?  To  them  their  present  advantage  seems  the  completest 
victory.  It  remains  to  be  seen  whether  their  expectations  are  built  upon 
enduring  foundations.  *  *  *  * 

"That  they  work  under  special  and  systematic  direction  may  be 
clearly  inferred  from  the  fact,  that  within  the  past  week  this  body  of 
men,  picked  up  mostly  from  the  servile  and  uneducated  classes,  have  ac 
complished  more  work  than  any  legislative  Assembly  ever  known  to 
history,  having  given  to  the  Territory  a  code  of  laws  which  will  occupy 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  233 

in  the  printed  volume,  more  than  a  thousand  octavo  pages.  The  "modus 
operand! "  by  which  this  was  accomplished,  however,  somewhat  dims  the 
luster  of  the  achievement;  they  having  adopted  with  a  few  exceptions, 
the  statutes  of  their  own  State,  merely  directing — by  the  passage  of  reso 
lutions  to  that  effect — that,  wherever  the  words  State  of  Missouri  were 
found,  the  copy  should  read  Territory  of  Kansas. 

"The  fetv  exceptions  are  still  occupying  their  time  and  attention,  and 
yourself  and  the  Association  may  rest  assured  that  I  will  give  you  early 
and  correct  information  as  to  the  result. 

"  LANGTRY." 

Two  days  later  he  wrote  as  follows: 

"They  are  progressing  with  their  work;  the  statutes  which  they  have 
enacted  in  relation  to  slavery,  would  not  be  tolerated  by  their  own  State 
of  Missouri.  Mark  you!  they  have  made  it  felony  to  utter  a  word 
against  the  institution,  and  the  penalty  for  thus  offending,  penal  servitude 
from  two  to  five  years,  the  convict  to  drag  a  heavy  ball  and  chain  affixed 
to  the  ankle,  and  to  labor  on  -the  public  roads,  or  in  the  service  of  individuals 
at  the  fixed  price  of  fifty  cents  per  diem. 

*'  For  greater  offences  against  the  slave  property,  they  have  provided  a 
severer  penally.  For  instance,  to  aid  in  any  rebellion  of  slaves,  to  assist 
any  slaves  to  escape  from  their  masters,  to  bring  any  book  or  tract 
calculated  to  excite  rebellion  on  the  part  of  slaves,  free  negroes, 
or  mulattoes,  to  carry  out  of  the  Territory  a  slave  belonging  to  an 
other,  or  to  assist  the  same,  are  all  capital  offences,  to  be  punished 
with  death. 

"  It  remains  to  be  seen  how  men  from  the  North,  where  the  battle  of 
free  speech  and  free  press  has  long  since  been  fought  and  won,  will  bear 
this.  Will  they  discontinue  the  newspapers  from  their  old  homes,  burn 
up  their  copies  of  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,  and  destroy  the  poems  of  Whit- 
tier  ?  Will  they  see  the  slave  driven  by  the  lash  of  the  master  to  labor 
on  these  fertile  prairies,  see  his  scars,  and  hear  his  groans ;  will  they  wit 
ness  the  sundering  of  family  ties  and  see  marriage  made  a  mockery,  and 
their  lips  be  sealed?  I  answer,  No!  as  well  might  they  try  to  chain  the 
winds  which  sweep  resistlessly  over  these  prairies,  as  to  bid  us  keep 
silence  in  the  presence  of  this  great  sin.  ***** 

"  Are  the  politicians  our  masters,  that  they  may  lay  their  fingers  on 
our  lips  at  will?  Nay,  we  shall  but  echo  with  one  voice,  the  words  of 
him,  who  twenty  years  ago,  said:  « I  am  in  earnest,  I  will  not  excuse,  I 
will  not  retreat  a  single  inch;  and  I  will  be  heard,'  and  whose  eloquent 
appeals  have  since  then  taken  this  country  by  the  four  corners  and 


234  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

shaken  it  until  railroad  and  steamboat,  homes  and  halls  of  legislation  re 
sound  with  discussion  of  the  great  question  upon  which  these  puny  law 
givers  bid  the  people  of  Kansas  be  silent. 

"  Also,  they  have  enacted,  in  order,  I  suppose,  that  persons  accused  of 
violating  the  statutes  in  relation  to  offences  against  slave  property,  may 
obtain  justice, 

"  Section  No.  13,  which  reads  thus:  4  No  person  who  is  conscien 
tiously  opposed  to  holding  slaves,  or  who  does  not  admit  the  right  to 
hold  slaves  in  the  Territory,  shall  sit  as  a  juror  on  the  trial  of  any  prose 
cution  in  which  the  right  to  hold  any  person  in  slavery  is  involved;  nor 
in  any  cause  in  which  any  injury  done  to,  or  committed  by  any  slave,  Is 
in  issue ;  nor  in  any  criminal  proceeding  for  the  violation  of  any  law  en 
acted  for  the  protection  of  slave  property,  and  for  the  punishment  of 
crime  committed  against  the  right  to  such  property.' 

"  Thus,  at  one  blow,  they  have  demolished  that  ancient  bulwark  of 
freedom  which  has  ever  been  a  stumbling  block  in  the  path  of  tyrants. 

"Unjust  and  oppressive  laws  may  be  passed,  officers  may  be  found  who 
will  execute  those  enactments,  but,  if  before  a  charge  can  be  brought 
against  a  man,  beyond  a  trifle,  a  jury  of  twelve  unprejudiced  men  must 
indict  him  for  the  offence,  and  then  before  he  can  be  punished  twelve  of 
his  peers,  unprejudiced  against  him,  must  say  with  one  accord :  'He  is 
guilty,'  he  is  measurably  free  from  oppression. 

"  But  how  will  it  be  with  us  in  this  Territory  of  Kansas,  when  we 
have  allowed  this  tide  of  aggression  to  sweep  away  this  last  safeguard. 

"  Already  we  have  judges,  whose  sympathies,  interests  and  feelings, 
are  strongly  enlisted  against  us;  the  sheriffs  and  other  officers  appointed 
by  this  Legislature,  are  all  most  resolute  adherents  of  the  pro-slavery 
cause,  and  lest  any  one  of  a  different  stamp  should  by  any  possibility 
creep  in,  they  have  instituted  a  test,  contrary  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  demanding  of  every  candidate  for  office  that  he  subscribe 
to  an  oath,  'solemnly  swearing  upon  the  holy  evangelists  of  Almighty 
God,'  that  he  will  bupport  or  sustain  the  provisions  of  the  Act  of  Con 
gress  entitled  '  An  act  to  organize  the  Territory  of  Kansas  and  Ne 
braska,'  and  the  provisions  of  the  law  commonly  known  as  the  '  fugitive 
slave  law.* 

"  With  courts  and  juries  organized  for  the  conviction  of  Free  State 
men,  of  felonious  offences,  whose  highest  turpitude  consists  in  the  exer 
cise  of  the  commonest  rights  of  citizens,  and  obedience  to  the  im 
pulses  of  human  feelings,  could  human  ingenuity  exert  itself  in  politics 
to  the  creation  of  a  more  diabolical  scheme? 

"  LANGTRY." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  235 

Again: 

"  Another  week  of  law-making  has  passed,  another  week  I  have  sat 
and  watched  their  movements,  discerning,  I  think,  the  one  hand  which 
touches  the  keys,  and  guided  by  subtle  instinct,  strikes  ever  the  correct 
note  which  wakes  the  passions  of  ruder  minds,  and  compels  them  to  do 
his  bidding.  Ambition,  material  interest,  and  the  inherited  prejudices  of 
several  generations  of  pro-slavery  progenitors,  joined  with  a  rare  insight 
into  men's  motives,  and  disregard  of  such  old-fashioned  virtues  as  truth, 
equity  and  justice,  when  they  stand  as  obstacles  in  his  path,  combine  to 
make  Col.  Delaney  the  leader  of  his  party  in  the  Territory.  In  the  con 
fidence  of  the  government  at  Washington,  trusted  by  the  Southern  lead 
ers,  admired,  almost  worshiped  by  the  great  servile  body  of  men  who 
make  up  the  rank  and  file,  what  shall  hinder  him  from  accession  to  the 
highest  office  in  the  gift  of  the  State,  should  he  succeed  in  fastening 
slavery  upon  us,  a  measure  which  I  believe  is  meant  but  as  an  entering 
wedge  to  open  the  way  by  which  their  cherished  institution  shall  be 
carried  into  all  the  territory  belonging  to  the  United  States,  and  from 
thence  into  the  States  themselves.  So  much  have  they  marked  out, 
and  the  master  of  ceremonies  sits  serenely,  smiling  and  watching — his 
large  black  eyes  bent,  now  here,  now  there,  noting  every  movement  of 
his  puppets,  his  long,  slim,  jeweled  hand  running  nervously  through  the 
locks  of  his  iron  gray  hair,  when  hesitation  or  faltering  appears  on  some 
point  where  the  way  has  not  been  accurately  laid  out,  but  coming  to  the 
rescue  swiftly  by  suggestions  to  the  member  who  sits  at  his  side,  and  acts 
as  mouthpiece.  , 

"The  young  man,  his  son,  in  whom  must  have  reappeared  the  spirit 
of  some  revolutionary  ancestor,  is  here  too,  the  greater  part  of  the  time, 
and  listens  with  undisguised  amazement,  and  freely  expresses  his  disap 
proval  of  their  proceedings,  and  the  Colonel  regards  with  no  little 
apprehension  this  rebellion  against  his  paternal  rule.  I  was  an  unwilling 
and  unseen  witness  to  an  interview  between  them,  in  which  the  son 
remonstrated  against  the  passage  of  the  law  in  regard  to  jurors.  He  used 
arguments  drawn  from  reason  and  history,  and  pointed  to  the  utter  im 
possibility  of  Americans  who  had  drank  deeply  from  the  fountains  of 
political  liberty,  submitting  to  such  a  regime  of  despotism,  but  his  words 
made  no  impression,  and  then  he  declared : 

u '  You  are  mad !  These  men  from  the  North  are  no  meek  negroes 
that  they  should  thus  lie  down  and  allow  you  to  tread  upon  them ;  they 
will  never  bear  it.  They  will  rebel.' 

"  The  reply  came  in  contemptuous  tones : 

"  •  I  wish  they  would.    We  ask  nothing  better.     We  can  meet  and 


236  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

vanquish  them  with  force  where  we  fail  in  argument;  they  having  the 
appeal  to  sentiment  and  emotion  on  their  side.  But  they  will  never  do 
it!  They  are  a  nation  of  traders,  with  the  almighty  dollar  for  their  God. 
The  very  mention  of  a  war  with  the  best  customers  of  their  shops  and 
factories,  causes  them  to  cringe,  and  shrink,  and%press  to  their  bosoms  their 
precious  money  boxes.' 

"  *  Father !  you  mistake  them  entirely,'  said  Roderick ;  '  they  are  in 
dustrious  and  energetic.  They  love  gain,  I  will  allow,  and  they  love  law 
and  order,  but  they  love  justice  and  freedom  more.  There  are  those 
among  them  who  would  venture  all  things  for  the  liberty  of  a  depised 
race,  but  they  are  held  back  by  others  who  can  see  no  wrong,  feel  no  in 
justice  until  it  touches  themselves  in  life  or  property,  and  these  even,  you 
will  arouse  by  this  outrage  upon  their  brethren,  who  have  sought  new 
homes  in  the  Territory,  trusting  to  the  laws  of  their  country  for  protec 
tion.  I  beg  of  you,  to  stop  and  consider,  before  you  carry  your  aggres 
sive  measures  so  far  that  the  whole  world  will  look  on  aghast.' 

"The  elder  Delaney  turned  upon  the  younger  with  a  sneer:  'I  be 
lieve  you  are  become  a  white-livered  Abolitionist.  Such  language  ill  be 
comes  a  man  in  whom  the  blood  of  many  generations  of  South  Caroli 
na's  proudest  sons  flows  unsullied.' 

"'Nay!'  said  the  younger,  gravely,  and  with  deference:  'It  is  be 
cause  I  would  preserve  untainted  the  blood  of  noble  patriots  of  our  native 
State  who  fought  so  bravely  for  sweet  liberty,  that  I  thus  protest  against 
this  desecration  of  the  rights  of  free-born  American  citizens.' 

"  Col.  Delaney's  voice  was  husky,  and  his  face  pale  at  white  heat  with 
anger,  as  he  replied  : 

'"You  had  better  join  the  Kansas  Legion  at  once.  We  want  no 
such  half-hearted  followers  in  our  ranks.' 

'"  Perhaps  I  will,'  and  the  young  man  turned  on  his  heels,  the  victor, 
at  least  in  self-control.  LANGTRY." 

A  week  later  he  wrote  again : 

*'  They  are  now  engaged  in  drawing  up  a  memorial  to  Congress,  pray 
ing  to  remove  Governor  Reeves,  he  having  added  to  his  former  offences 
against  them,  by  declaring  all  their  proceedings  irregular  and  void,  on 
the  ground  of  their  removal  from  the  place  designated  as  the  Capitol,  and 
also  having  replied  to  the  committee  appointed  to  call  upon  him,  who 
used  such  mild  means  of  remonstrance  as  threats  of  hanging,  shooting, 
and  other  forms  of  death : 

"  '  Gentlemen,  two  or  three  can  assassinate  me,  but  a  legion  can  not 
compel  me  to  do  that  which  my  conscience  does  not  approve.' 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  237 

"Such  a  man  will  never  answer  their  purposes,  and  so  they  will  request 
his  removal  on  some  trumped  up  charge  of  speculating  in  lands.  All 
honor  to  this  brave  Governor  from  the  Keystone  State.  Let  our  people 
remember  this  man,  too  honest  to  be  bribed  with  place  or  power, 
and  too  courageous  to  be  intimidated. 

"  That  their  enactments  passed  over  the  Governor's  veto  may  not 
lack  sanction,  they  have  resorted  to  a  high-handed  judicial  expedient. 
Without  waiting  for  cases  to  arise  under  their  laws  by  which  to  ascertain 
their  validity,  they  have  submitted  the  most  obnoxious  of  them  to  the 
consideration  of  the  Supreme  Court,  that  body  with  a  wise  forethought 
being  convened  in  this  place  at  the  present  time.  The  result  I  will  give 
you  anon.  LANGTRY." 

Still  a  week  later,  he  writes: 

"  As  might  have  been  expected,  overlooking  the  fact  that  there  was 
no  case  before  them,  that  they  were  prejudging  any  case  which  might 
arise  under  the  statutes,  that  the  party  who  might  be  interested  was  thus 
condemned  without  a  hearing,  and  that  the  whole  proceeding  was 
irregular  and  extra  judicial,  the  Supreme  Judge  and  one  of  his  associates, 
the  other  dissenting,  decided  in  favor  of  these  enactments,  and  against 
the  Governor's  veto,  and  bolstered  up  a  lengthy  and  confused  legal 
opinion  on  the  subject,  by  the  following  superb  piece  of  irony: 

" '  In  reaching  this  determination,  we  (the  judges)  have  been  in 
fluenced  in  no  small  degree,  by  our  high  appreciation  of  the  constituent 
elements  of  your  honorable  bodies,  thoroughly  satisfied  as  we  are,  that  in 
the  great  requisites  of  intelligence,  and  public  ^irtue,  the  legislative 
Assembly  of  Kansas  will  compare  favorably  with  any  other.' 

"  Imagine  if  you  can,  the  sardonic  grin  with  which  your  worthy 
justices  penned  this  indorsement  of  your  Legislature,  and  the  cheers  and 
yells  with  which  the  last  named  body  received  it.  A  legislative  assembly, 
many  of  whose  members  live  in  Missouri,  who  spend  the  nights  in  wild 
revels  in  Westport,  and  who  are  often  found  in  a  state  of  bibulous  insen 
sibility  through  the  day  here,  who  have  robbed  the  public  of  security  by 
imposing  their  minions  upon  us  to  execute  the  laws,  receiving  the 
eulogium  of  the  Supreme  Court.  Could  servility  bend  lower? 

"  No  wonder  that,  having  thus  received  absolution  in  advance,  they 
have  proceeded  to  gather  together  all  possible  spoils,  and  parcel  them  out 
among  themselves  and  their  supporters.  They  have  passed  over  a 
hundred  and  forty  pages  of  acts  of  incorporation,  by  virtue  of  which  joint 
stock  companies  are  called  into  being,  and  charters  given  to  railway,  min 
ing,  insurance,  landholding  and  other  companies,  to  toll  bridges,  ferries, 


238  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

plank  roads,  even  universities,  beyond  all  we  may  require  for  many  years; 
and  then,  oh,  immaculate  bod y  which  has  impeached  a  Governor  for  specu 
lating  in  lands!  not  only  repaid  themselves  by  dividing  the  lion's  share 
of  the  stock  in  these  various  concerns,  but  by  a  judicious  introduction  of 
other  names  into  their  grants,  bound  to  themselves  four  or  five  hundred 
individuals,  who,  as  favored  grantees,  have  become  interested  in  uphold, 
ing  the  laws  upon  which  the  legality  of  their  grants  depend. 

"They  have  located  our  future  capitol  at  Lecompton,  the  most  incon 
venient  and  inaccessible  place  they  could  have  selected,  but  the  settlers 
in  that  vicinity  are  mostly  pro-slavery,  and  it  is  affirmed  that  the  '  mem 
bers  '  have  received  from  the  town  company  liberal  grants  of  town  lots 
as  the  price  of  their  votes,  a  good  speculation  on  the  part  of  the  latter,  as 
a  large  sum  of  money  will  be  expended  in  public  buildings. 

"With  the  passage  of  a  few  measures  of  less  importance,  this  body  will 
adjourn,  and  it  becomes  our  duty  as  citizens  to  take  into  consideration  the 
question,  whether  or  not  we  will  acknowledge  it  as  a  legally-elected 
body,  and  its  enactments  binding,  or  repudiate  the  whole  thing  as  bogus, 
and  a  fraud  upon  our  rights.  I  inclose  herewith  some  of  my  reasons  for 
considering  it  the  part  of  wisdom  to  pursue  the  latter  course,  and  the 
Association  may,  if  it  see  fit,  put  them  in  print,  and  use  the  same  for  a 
circular  in  calling  a  convention  of  the  people. 

"EDWARD  LANGTRY." 

This  was  done  immediately,  and  large  numbers  of  copies 
distributed  with  the  call  for  a  convention  to  be  held  at  White 
Springs  on  Sept.  5,  this  call  having  originated  with  the 
people  of  Warsaw,  at  a  meeting  held  in  that  place,  during  the 
latter  part  of  August. 

In  this  circular  Langtry  recounted  in  full  the  circumstances 
of  the  election  of  the  members  of  the  Legislature  by  fraud 
and  violence  on  the  3Oth  of  March,  and  then  reviewed,  as  in 
his  letters,  the  most  obnoxious  of  their  acts,  declaring  them 
illegal  and  void,  and  not  binding  upon  the  conscience  of  any 
man,  not  only  because  enacted  by  a  body  of  usurpers,  but  as 
violations  in  themselves  of  the  principles  of  justice  which 
should  be  the  supreme  law.  He  discussed  the  propriety  of 
resisting  their  enforcement,  not  by  violence,  unless  the  same 
was  necessary  by  failure  of  all  other  means,  but  by  an  in- 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  239 

auguration  of  measures  looking  to  the  formation  of  a  State 
Government.  This,  he  said,  was  a  measure  which  could  be 
adopted  with  propriety  at  any  stage  in  the  affairs  of  the  Terri 
tory,  and  one  which  the  present  exigency  called  for  as  a 
remedy  that  would  meet  the  case,  and  restore  authority  to  the 
people  of  Kansas.  He  discussed  with  eloquence  the  necessity 
of  preserving  the  rights  of  free  speech,  free  press,  and  trial 
by  jury,  as  three  safeguards  of  society,  which  could  not  safely 
be  allowed  to  be  infringed ;  and  also  the  sin  of  obeying  any 
law  which  conflicted  with  the  laws  of  God,  as  in  the  case  of 
the  Fugitive  Slave  Law,  an  oath  to  support  which  must  be 
taken,  under  this  bogus  code,  by  any  officer,  juror,  or  voter  in 
the  Territory;  and  he  compared  this  code  to  the  famous 
edicts  of  Philip  of  Spain,  an  attempt  to  enforce  which  del 
uged  with  blood  and  almost  depopulated  the  Netherlands. 

The  fearless  character  of  this  man  may  be  seen  in  the  fact 
that  he  signed  his  full  name,  Edward  Langtry,  to  this  docu 
ment,  well  knowing  that  it  would  bring  upon  him  the  furious 
imprecations  of  the  pro-slavery  men,  and  perhaps  the  secret 
vengeance  of  the  Blue  Lodge. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 


Roderick  Delaney  came  twice  to  visit  the  Aldens  during 
the  session  of  the  Legislature.  The  first  time  in  a  gay,  happy 
mood,  laughing  and  jesting,  quoting  poetry  and  sentiment, 
and  discussing  politics  with  Alden;  neither  of  them  belong 
ing  to  the  most  radical  type  of  their  respective  parties,  they 
could  talk  issues  over  without  becoming  excited,  a  fact  so  un 
common  at  that  time,  that  they  chuckled  over  it  not  a  little, 
and  took  to  themselves  great  credit  for  fairness  and  im 
partiality. 

He  came  in  a  two-horse  buggy,  and  at  sunset  asked 
Grace  to  take  a  short  drive  with  him,  and  she  consented. 
They  were  gone  perhaps  an  hour,  and  on  their  return  they  all 
sat  out  of  doors  in  the  starlight  until  a  late  hour.  The  con 
versation  was  light,  and  very  general.  Delaney  at  last  took 
his  leave,  and  Amy,  having  bread  to  knead,  or  something  of 
that  kind  to  attend  to,  went  into  the  house,  leaving  Grace  and 
her  father  alone. 

"  Papa,"  said  she,  rising  from  her  seat  and  coming  to 
stand  behind  his  chair  with  her  arms  around  his  neck; 
"  papa,  I  want  you  to  do  me  a  favor." 

"  Well,  what  is  it,  Grace?     Out  with  it."  i 

«  The  next  time  Mr.  Delaney  comes,  I  want  you  to  tell 
him — not  abruptly,  you  know — but  in  some  round-about  way, 
and  yet  so  that  he  may  be  sure  of  it,  that  Arthur  and  I  are 

engaged." 

240 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  ,        24! 

"  I  will  do  so,  certainly,"  and  then  taking  her  hands  and 
turning  so  as  to  get  a  glimpse  of  her  face,  "  Afraid,  eh  ?  " 

"No!  oh,  no!"  said  she  quickly,  "but  I  think  it  due  to 
Mr.  Delaney,  as  well  as  to  Arthur,  that  he  should  know  that 
cur  relations  have  changed — that  I  am  not  free  to  receive  his 
attentions." 

"  And  you  do  not  want  the  pleasure  of  refusing  him?  I 
thought  my  girl  was  a  little  bit  of  a  coquette." 

"  You  must  not  form  rash  judgments  on  short  acquaint 
ance,  papa.  It  is  not  prudent,"  said  she,  archly.  "  And  now 
will  you  do  as  I  bid  you?  Arthur's  generous  confidence  to 
ward  me  since  our  engagement  has  bound  me  to  the  utmost 
loyalty." 

"Yes,  I  will.  I  think  myself  it  will  be  best."  She 
kissed  him  good-night,  and  was  gone,  and,  for  the  first 
time  a  doubt  suggested  itself  to  John  Alden  whether  he  had 
done  right  in  swaying  his  daughter's  inclinations  by  so  much 
as  a  hair's  breadth.  He  talked  it  over  with  Amy,  after  they 
had  retired,  and  she  quieted  his  apprehensions  by  her  cer 
tainty  that  Grace  was  perfectly  happy  in  her  new  relations, 
which  were  most  assuredly  promising,  so  far  as  human  pre 
vision  could  penetrate  the  future. 

Roderick  Delaney  came  again  toward  the  latter  part  of 
August.  It  was  early  in  the  evening,  and  Amy  and  Grace 
were  still  busy  with  some  housework  which  detained  them 
within  doors. 

Mrs.  Langtry  was  with  them,  and  the  sound  of  their 
cheerful  voices  could  be  heard  where  John  sat,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  house,  in  the  shade  of  a  morning  glory  vine  which, 
having  been  planted  in  the  spring,  had  grown  up  with  almost 
the  rapidity  of  Jonah's  gourd,  covering  a  rude  trellis, 
completely.  As  usual,  when  alone  and  idle,  John  was  en 
joying  his  pipe. 

Roderick  having   fastened   his  horse,  joined   him,  offering 


242  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

his  cigar-case,  but,  content  with  his  pipe,  John  declined,  offer 
ing  in  return  a  rustic  seat  and  a  light,  which  Roderick 
accepted. 

It  was  soon  plain  to  John  that  the  young  man  had  some 
thing  to  communicate,  for  his  manner  was  restless  and 
nervous,  unlike  his  generally  unruffled  tone.  After  a  few 
commonplace  remarks,  and  while  Alden  was  still  revolving  „ 
in  his  mind  the  question  of  how  hest  to  approach  the  com 
munication  Grace  had  requested  him  to  make,  the  young 
Southerner  plunged  at  once  into  his  own  affairs,  with: 

u  Mr.  Alden,  I  came  expressly  to  speak  to  you  this  even 
ing,  on  two  subjects  which  deeply  concern  me." 

"  Ah,"  said  John,  queslioningly. 

"  Yes;  and  I  shall  speak  to  you  first,  while  we  are  free 
from  interruption,  of  that  which  is  nearest  my  heart — your 
daughter — " 

"Stop!  One  moment,  Mr.  Delaney!  Before  you  goon 
let  me  give  you  a  message  with  which  I  am  charged.  It  is 
this;  my  daughter  is  engaged  to  Arthur  Fairchild,  with  the 
consent  of  parents  on  both  sides,  and  the  marriage  will 
take  place  in  November." 

Roderick's  face  was  slightly  turned  from  Alden,  so  that 
he  could  not  see  the  play  of  emotion,  but  it  was  sometime 
before  he  spoke.  John  had  not  intended  to  be  so  abrupt;  in 
fact,  he  had  spent  much  thought  on  ways  and  means  of  de 
livering  this  communication  in  a  gentle  and  delicate  manner, 
but  the  young  man's  looks,  his  earnest  mention  of  her  name, 
made  plain  to  him  that,  if  a  declaration  of  his  affection  for 
her  was  to  be  prevented,  it  must  be  done  at  once. 

When  at  last  Roderick  Delaney  spoke  it  was  calmly,  yet 
with  visible  effort: 

u  I  had  feared  as  much ;  yet,  as  long  as  there  is  one  straw 
of  hope  a  drowning  man  will  catch  at  it,  and  I  will  not  try 
to  conceal  from  you  that  I  am  deeply  disappointed.  Blind 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  243 

that  I  was,  not  to  see  it  from  the  first.  No  man  could  be  with 
her  constantly  and  not  worship  the  ground  she  walks  on." 

A  pause,  during  which  he  arose  and  walked  to  and  fro, 
saying  at  last: 

"  Fairchild  seems  a  good  enough  fellow,  too." 

"He  is  one  among  ten  thousand,"  said  Alden  warmly; 
"  and  he  has  waited  more  years  than  Jacob  waited  for 
Rachel.  But  now  that  question  is  disposed  of,  let  us  con 
sider  the  other." 

"  Disposing  of  the  first,"  said  Roderick  hastily,  and  some 
what  gloomily,  "  has  settled  the  other  also.  I  will  leave  the 
country.  I  will  go  back  to  Europe." 

«  Why!  What  has  occurred?  " 

"Simply  this:  My  father  and  I  have  disagreed.  For 
the  first  time  in  my  life  a  serious  difFer-ence  has  arisen 
between  us,  and  if  I  remain  here  it  must  become  an  open 
rupture." 

"  Not — about — not  my  daughter,  I  hope  ?  " 

"No;  I  do  not  think  he  would  interfere  with  me  in  an 
affair  of  this  kind;  and  I  have  as  yet  had  no  occasion  to 
mention  it  to  him.  Now,  of  course,  there  is  none.  It  is  this 
vexed  question  of  slavery  which  has  come  between  us." 

" '  A  ferment,'  "  said  John,  quoting  a  well-known  speaker, 
"'  which  is  working  in  this  body  politic,  and  whose  molecu 
lar  motions  will  never  subside  until  its  entire  substance  shall 
have  become  homogeneous.' '' 

"  Abolition  cant!  Don't  quote  it  to  me.  You  know  that  I 
believe  that  slavery  is  an  institution  ordained  by  the  provi 
dence  of  God  for  the  benefit  of  both  whites  and  blacks,  bring 
ing  to  the  former  relief  from  drudgery,  and  leisure  for  the 
higher  pursuits  of  life,  and  to  the  latter,  protection,  training, 
and  development.  This  doctrine  has  been  instilled  into  me 
from  my  youth  up,  as  carefully — more  carefully  than  the 
creed  of  my  church.  And  as  yet  I  see  no  reason  to  dispute  it, 


244  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

but  the  trouble  is  here.  I  cannot  see  why  we  should  force 
our  institutions  upon  a  body  of  free  people  who  reject  them, 
any  more  than  we  should  impose  our  religious  creed  upon 
those  who  refuse  it.  The  attempt  strikes  me  as  a  return  to 
the  methods  of  the  Dark  Ages,  and  I  am  convinced  it  cannot 
succeed." 

"Never!  "  said  Alden,  emphatically;  but,  without  noting 
the  interruption,  Delaney  continued: 

"  Through  my  father's  solicitations,  and  a  desire  to  benefit 
the  poor  whites  of  my  native  State,  I  became  interested  in 
the  endeavor  to  colonize  this  Territory  with  men  of  South 
ern  views,  hoping  thus  to  outnumber  you,  and  obtain,  fairly, 
under  the  provisions  of  the  organic  act,  an  enlargement  of 
Southern  boundaries,  and  thus  that  increase  of  political  power 
which  the  South  needs  for  her  own  preservation.  But  we 
have  failed.  I  concede  it,  and  I  will  never  be  instrumental 
in  subverting  the  will  of  the  majority,  thus  overturning  the 
corner-stone  of  the  liberties  of  my  country. 

"  My  father  cannot  be  made  to  see  this.  He  is  an  enthu 
siast  in  the  cause  of  the  South,  and  is  carried  by  his  zeal  far 
beyond  and  above  the  realms  of  reason  and  prudence.  I 
cannot  soar  with  him,  therefore  I  will  take  myself  off,  that 
the  sight  of  his  .eldest  son  in  opposition  to  himself  shall  not 
vex  him." 

With  John  Alden's  idea  of  the  duty  of  obedience  to 
parents,  influenced  insensibly,  perhaps,  by  the  thought  that 
Delaney's  absence  under  the  circumstances  would  be  most 
agreeable  to  himself,  he  could  not  counsel  him  to  do  other 
wise  than  take  the  course  which  his  inclinations  suggested. 
He  was  spared  the  necessity  of  saying  much,  however,  by 
the  coming  of  the  ladies,  who,  contrary  to  their  usual  custom, 
did  not  linger  on  the  south  side,  but  joined  the  gentlemen  on 
the  east.  The  last  lingering  rays  of  the  sun  had  faded  below 
the  horizon,  leaving  but  the  brilliant  reflection  of  his  light  in 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 


245 


gorgeous  pillars  of  cloud,  which   shone  like  burnished  gold, 
shading  off  into  flakes  of  yellow  and  crimson  and  purple. 

Grace  came  first,  and,  bowing  to  Mr.  Delaney,  took  her 
place  by  her  father,  while  Amy,  after  shaking  hands  with 
him  warmly,  seated  herself  on  a  bench  near  him,  and  Mrs. 
Langtry  occupied  a  rustic  chair  carved  from  the  stump  of  a 
large  tree,  which  Roderick  had  vacated  in  his  agitation. 

So  deeply  had  their  own  emotions  been  stirred,  that  the 
two  men  were  unable  to  subside  into  commonplace,  on  the 
instant,  and  conversation  flagged  somewhat  at  first,  but  Amy 
always  had  a  pleasant  way  of  tiding  over  awkward  pauses, 
and  on  this  occasion  she  playfully  put  in  motion  the  surface 
waters,  allowing  the  deeper  currents  time  to  subside.  It  was 
simply  done;  a  housekeeping  anecdote  or  two,  a  little  War 
saw  gossip,  some  good-natured  remarks  about  the  widow 
Hardiker,  who  had  been  over  during  the.  day,  arrayed  in  an 
entirely  new  suit  of  pink  organdy,  gorgeous  to  behold,  some 
affectionate  inquiries  about  Miss  Mabel,  in  which  Grace 
joined,  cleared  the  atmosphere,  and  the  rebound  of  repressed 
feeling  was  such  that  after  awhile  they  were  even  gayer  than 
usual,  Mrs.  Langtry  participating  in  the  general  good  cheer 
with  a  buoyancy  unknown  to  her  of  late,  her  husband's  ab 
sence  having  plunged  her  into  the  deepest  gloom.  He  was 
her  sunshine,  and,  like  the  flowers,  she  drooped  when  the  life- 
giving  rays  were  withdrawn.  But  the  time  was  at  hand  for 
his  return,  and  she  brightened  up  in  consequence.  Roderick, 
too,  was  able  to  give  her  assurances  of  his  safety,  having  seen 
him  only  the  evening  previous. 

In  the  midst  of  this  easy  chat  came  Arthur  Fairchild,  and 
then,  as  often  happens,  on  the  introduction  of  a  new  element 
into  a  social  circle,  a  stiffness  again  fell  upon  the  group, 
though  he  came  with  a  pleasant  greeting  for  Roderick  De 
laney,  and  an  unconscious  glance  of  love  and  admiration  for 
Grace's  upturned  face,  as  he  seated  himself  at  her  side,  a  look 


246  THE    SQHATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

which  paled  the  face  of  the  young  Southerner,  as  for  a  mo 
ment  a  tide  of  envy  and  jealousy,  and  a  sense  of  disappoint 
ment  surged  over  him. 

They  had  changed  places,  these  two,  and  it  required  all 
the  self-control  which  the  strong  will  of  Roderick  could  sum 
mon  to  his  aid,  to  accept,  with  calmness  and  dignity,  the 
situation  which  had  so  lately  been  forced  upon  him.  He  suc 
ceeded,  however,  meeting  with  graceful  hauteur  the  smiling 
complacency  which  a  consciousness  of  being  preferred,  had  in 
fused  into  Arthur's  manner. 

Arthur  had  just  returned  from  Warsaw',  having  been 
there  to  attend  a  meeting  called  to  take  into  consideration 
the  political  situation.  Disputes  ending  in  violence  were  at 
this  time  common  all  over  the  Territory,  and  several  street 
brawls  had  recently  occurred  in  Warsaw,  much  to  the  cha 
grin  of  her  people.  He  had  carried  Langtry's  letters,  except 
the  last,  which,  with  the  circular,  had  not  yet  arrived  from 
Shawnee,  to  be  read  at  the  meeting,  arid  Mrs.  Langtry, 
whose  interest  in  the  Free  State  cause  was  second  only  to 
that  of  her  husband,  began  to  inquire  of  him  as  to  the 
proceedings. 

He  replied  that  there  was  manifested  a  general  disposi 
tion  to  repudiate  the  bogus  legislature,  and  resist  the  enforce 
ment  of  its  laws,  reports  of  the  most  obnoxious  of  them 
having  been  read  and  commented  upon,  and  that  her  hus 
band's  letters  had  been  read  and  received  with  enthusiasm. 

"  But  did  they  not  decide  upon  any  measures,  any  plan  of 
action?"  inquired  Agnes,  with  a  woman's  eagerness  for 
something  tangible.  .  . 

"Nothing,  really  they  decided  nothing;  of  course  a  meet 
ing  of  the  citizens  of  one  county  could  accomplish  nothing 
decisive.  But  they  have  issued  a  call  for  a  convention  to  be 
held  at  White  Springs,  on  the  5th  of  next  month,  to  which 
representatives  from  every  part  of  the  Territory  will  be 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  ^47 

invited,  for  the  express  purpose  of  discussing  and  devising  a 
plan  of  action." 

Roderick  Delaney  having  listened  with  interest  and 
implied  approval  to  this,  Agnes  ventured  to  say  to  him : 

"  You  will  attend  this  meeting,  will  you  not?" 

He  hesitated  a  moment,  the  attention  of  all  being  thus 
called  to  himself,  and  then  said: 

"  I  hardly  think  I  shall  be  in  the  Territory  at  that  time. 
I  hope  to  be  on  my  way  to  Europe  before  many  days." 

"To  Europe!  leave  the  Territory  at  this  time,  when  the 
presence  of  every  true  man  is  required  in  the  solution  of  this 
vexed  problem  ?  I  cannot  understand  such  a  move  on  your 
part,  Mr.  Delaney." 

"  It  is  to  escape  the  tumult  and  turmoil  of  passions  I  go, 
Mrs.  Langtry,"  said  the  young  man,  thus  pressed  to  the  wall. 
"  I  shall  put  the  sea  between  this  tempest  in  a  teapot  and 
myself,  and  remain  away  until  it  has  subsided." 

"  And  thus  shirk  the  responsibility  of  your  own  acts. 
Oh,  Mr.  Delaney!  where  is  your  patriotism  that  you  can 
thus  say,  '  Let  others  take  care  of  my  country,  it  matters  not 
to  me? '"cried  this  blue-eyed  mentor,  whose  perception  of 
duty  was  ever  clear,  and  whose  brave,  impulsive  spirit  led 
her,  seeing  the  path,  to  point  it  out  without  hesitation. 

Delaney's  eyes  had  been  fixed  on  Grace  from  the  moment 
of  his  announcement  of  his  determination  to  leave  the  coun 
try;  and  his  watchfulness  had  been  rewarded  by  a  little  start 
of  surprise,  but  he  turned  at  this  questioning  of  his  patriotism. 
"  I  seem  to  have  no  lot  nor  part  in  this  contest,  Mrs.  Lang- 
try.  1  cannot  go  to  extremes  with  either  party.  I  stand  on 
a  central  ridge  in  the  battlefield,  within  range  of  the  guns 
on  both  sides,  and  the  safest  way  is  to  move  off  until  the  battle 
is  over." 

"  The  safest,"  said  she,  in  scornful  tones,  "  but  the  true 
patriot — the  true  man — considers  not  ease  nor  safety,  when 


348  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

principles  are  in  danger.  I  had  thought  you  made  of  better 
material,  Mr.  Delaney,"  and  then,  as  he  made  no  reply, 
"  Nothing  for  you  to  do!  nothing!  Is  it  nothing,  that  you 
can  stand  upon  your  middle  ground,  and  by  your  force  of 
will,  hold  in  restraint  the  aggressive  zeal  of  the  one  party,  and 
by  your  fairness  and  moderation  assure  the  other  that  there 
is  still  a  point  in  common  whereon  they  can  meet  and  settle 
their  difficulties  without  bloodshed?"  In  her  earnestness 
she  had  risen  and  stood  before  him,  putting  forth  her  hand 
as  if  in  entreaty,  and  Roderick  listened  in  silence  to  this  new 
view  of  the  situation  —  which,  in  his  chagrin  and  personal 
disappointment,  he  had  failed  to  see.  But,  thus  adjured, 
though  in  the  presence  of  his  rival  —  in  the  presence  of  the 
woman  he  loved  and  had  failed  to  win,  he  was  still  noble 
enough  to  perceive  and  acknowledge  its  force.  He  listened 
until  she  had  ceased  to  speak,  and  then  rising,  and  reaching 
forth  his  hand,  he  grasped  hers.  His  voice  was  husky  with 
emotion,  and  there  were  tears  in  the  eyes  of  the  witnesses  of 
that  scene  beneath  the  silent  stars,  as  he  said,  "  I  thank  you, 
fair  mentor,  for  this  clear  showing  of  my  duty.  Into  the 
breach  between  the  two,  where  misunderstanding  and  blame 
from  both  parties,  where  danger  and  no  glory  awaits,  my 
pathway  lies,  and  at  your  bidding  I  will  try  to  walk  therein. 
Good-night  to  all,"  and  in  a  moment  he  had  turned  to  go. 
John  Alden  went  with  him  to  where  his  horse  was  tied,  shook 
him  warmly  by  the  hand,  and  bade  him  come  again.  "  I 
will,"  said  he,  "  when  I  can,"  and  was  gone.  When  Alden 
returned  to  the  house,  the  little  group  had  dispersed.  Grace 
and  Arthur  had  walked  home  with  Mrs.  Langtry,  and  Amy 
was  busy  in  the  house  with  some  preparation  for  breakfast. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

WHITE    SPRINGS A    WARNING    TO    LANGTRY. 

The  Convention  at  White  Springs  was  a  great  success  in 
numbers,  in  enthusiasm,  and  in  its  effect  upon  the  future 
movements  of  the  Free  State  party,  there  and  then  regularly 

organized. 

One  hundred  regularly  elected  delegates  were  present, 
and  they  represented  every  district  and  settlement  in  the  Ter 
ritory,  The  meeting  was  held  in  the  open  air,  no  building 
being  found  large  enough  to  contain  the  large  number 
assembled. 

The  first  proceeding  of  this  Convention  was  to  repudiate 
the  acts  and  doings  of  the  late  Legislature. 

Then  the  circular  written  by  Edward  Langtry  was  read 
and  approved,  and  a  call  issued  for  another  convention  to  be 
held  two  weeks  later,  whose  express  object  should  be  to 
determine  whether  the  suggestion  there,  made,  that  measures 
should  be  inaugurated  to  organize  a  State  government, 
should  be  acted  upon. 

The  mere  mention  of  a  State  government  called  forth 
the  wildest  enthusiasm. 

But  the  most  important  act  of  this  Convention,  and  the 
one  which  rendered  it  a  starting  point  of  the  party,  was  the 
nomination  of  a  delegate  to  Congress.  The  bogus  Legisla 
ture  had  made  provision  for  an  election  to  take  place  on  the 
ist  of  October,  but  having  declared  that  body  and  all  its  acts 
illegal,  and  as  the  qualifications  required  of  voters  in  the 
shape  of  test  oaths  and  taxes  were  irregular  and  oppressive, 
it  was  determined  to  hold  an  election  on  a  different  day. 

249 


250  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

After  prescribing  rules  for  the  government  of  the  election, 
and  electing  an  executive  committee  of  seven,  the  Conven 
tion  proceeded  to  the  nomination  of  a  candidate. 

Edward  Langtry  rose,  and  in  an  eloquent  speech  narrated 
the  brave  acts,  and  enumerated  the  wrongs  of  ex-Governor 
Reeves,  who  had  been  superseded  by  Governor  Harlan,  and 
whom  he  said  he  wished  to  put  in  nomination  for  the  office  of 
delegate  to  Congress.  As  he  paused,  a  deep  silence  for  a  mo 
ment  pervaded  the  assembly.  Every  man  drew  a  long  breath, 
as  if  he  for  one  instant  considered  the  importance  of  the  step 
which  they  were  taking,  a  step  which  might  be  held  as 
treason  by  the  usurping  party;  but  the  next  instant  the  air 
was  rent  with  cries,  "  Reeves !  Reeves !  three  times  three 
for  Reeves  and  the  right ! " 

The  nomination  was  seconded,  and  immediately  afterward 
Reeves  was  nominated  by  acclamation. 

He  was  a  man  of  erect  and  determined  aspect,  with  hair 
slightly  grey,  and  had  hitherto  been  more  apt  to  listen  than 
to  commit  himself  by  words;  but  now  that  his  connection 
with  the  government  had  ceased,  and  the  weight  of  op 
pressive  authority  was  lifted,  he  felt  free  to  express  his  con 
victions,  as  he  had  ever  been  prompt  to  act  on  them.  He 
accepted  the  nomination,  which  was  a  practical  indorsement 
of  his  course,  in  a  speech  of  unusual  fervor,  and  the  enthu 
siasm  became  almost  ungovernable,  the  settlers  gathering 
about  him  at  its  close,  with  warmest  greetings. 

When  order  was  again  restored,  a  platform  was  proposed, 
and  was  finally  adopted,  after  much  discussion  and  warm 
debate,  it  being  found  almost  impossible  to  harmonize  into 
a  homogeneous  body  the  widely  differing  elements  with  but 
the  one  point  in  common — a  desire  to  make  Kansas  a  Free 
State. 

The  first  resolution  invited  men  of  all  parties  to  join  in 
the  movement. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  251 

The  second  denounced  non-resident  voters,  no  matter 
where  from. 

The  third  declared  the  policy  to  be  that  which  should 
make  Kansas  a  Free  State. 

The  fourth  expressed  a  determination  to  make  reasonable 
provision  for  slaves  then  present  in  the  Territory. 

The  fifth,  over  which  there  was  much  discussion,  and 
which  bid  fair  at  even  this  early  day  to  divide  the  party,  de 
clared  that  no  negro,  bond  or  free,  should  be  permitted  to 
come  into  the  Territory. 

This  was  the  notorious  black  law  feature,  and,  in  con 
junction  with  the  sixth,  which  repudiated  the  charge  of 
Abolitionism  as  affixed  to  the  Free  State  party,  was  objected 
to  by  Langtry  and  others,  whose  sympathies  were  wide 
enough  to  take  in  all  humanity,  without  regard  to  color  or 
previous  condition,  and  they  expressed  this  feeling  unre 
servedly;  but,  finally,  on  the  principle  that  half  a  loaf  is 
better  than  no  bread,  and  inasmuch  as  the  results  of  the  Con 
vention  taken  as  a  whole,  were  a  great  step  forward  for  the 
cause  in  which  they  had  long  borne  the  burden  and  the  heat 
of  the  day,  they  determined  to  be  satisfied. 

And  so,  too,  were  the  border  ruffians.  Every  step  taken 
by  the  Free  State  settlers  in  opposition  to  the  government 
was  hailed  with  joy  as  leading  toward  an  open  rupture, 
which  might  make  possible  that  movement  which  had  long 
been  promised  them — an  armed  invasion  of  the  Territory. 

Returning  home  after  the  adjournment,  Edward  Langtry 
found  his  wife  in  a  state  of  extreme  trepidation.  She  had 
passed  a  sleepless  night  of  anxiety  and  terror,  on  his  account, 
and  not  without  reason,  our  friends  felt,  upon  hearing  her 
story,  which  she  related  in  tears. 

It  was  nearly  bedtime  on  the  evening  of  the  5th,  a  dark, 
cloudy  night,  and  she  sat  alone  in  the  house,  George  having 
gone  to  the  barn  to  attend  to  the  horses.  It  was  warm,  and 


252  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

close,  and  still,  save  for  the  shrill  notes  of  Bob  White,  which 
could  be  heard  at  intervals  in  the  direction  of  the  timber. 
She  was  thinking  of  her  husband,  and  how  happy  and  pros 
perous  they  might  be,  but  for  the  unsettled  condition  of  the 
Territory,  and  his  active  interest  in  politics;  and  yet  she  could 
not  blame  him.  It  would  be  base  indeed  to  sacrifice  his  life 
long  principles,  to  ease  and  security,  even  if  the  sacrifice 
would  insure  their  safety.  Suddenly  the  form  of  a  man 
appeared  in  the  doorway,  which  stood  open  for  the  admission 
of  air. 

"  Whisht!  is  it  alone  yez  are?  "  said  a  low  voice. 

She  started  up  in  affright,  but  controlled  herself  with  a 
strong  effort,  as  she  replied: 

"  Brother  George  is  somewhere  near;  I  can  call  him.  Do 
you  wish  to  see  him? " 

"  No,"  said  the  intruder,  still  in  the  same  whispered  tone. 
"  It's  yerself  I  wud  be  afther  spakin'  to;  the  blissed  leddy  that 
yez  are,  and  Pat  Malone  wud  have  the  heart  of  a  rock,  an' 
he  saw  sorrow  comin'  to  that  shwate  face,  an'  niver  shpoke 
a  word  o'  warnin'  to  yez." 

"  Why,  what  do  you  mean,  Mr.  Malone?  "  said  Agnes, 
coming  forward,  recognizing  him  as  one  whose  family  she 
had  taken  care  of  during  the  season  of  sickness  in  the  early 
spring,  and  for  whom  she  had  since  done  many  a  little  kind 
ness  in  an  unobtrusive  manner. 

"  I  mean,  leddy,  that  I'm  commanded  to  c  take  care'  of 
yer  husband,  mum,  an'  by  me  troth  I'll  do  that  same,'  "  said 
he  with  a  very  perceptible  twinkle  in  his  eye,  enjoying  the 
play  upon  the  words,  "  take  care,"  with  all  an  Irishman's 
sense  of  humor. 

"But  can  he  not  take  care  of  himself?"  said  Agnes,  still 
mystified,  and  yet  with  a  deepening  of  that  sense  of  danger 
which  had  long  haunted  her. 

Pat  made  no  reply,  but  drew  from  the  pocket  of  his  blue 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  253 

jeans  pants  a  paper,  which   he   placed   in   Agnes'  hand,  and 
stood  in  silence  while  she  read. 

"  GENERAL  ORDER  No.  i.     Blue  Lodge  No.  10,  S.  of  S. 

"  Mark  every  leader  of  this  obnoxious  Abolition  party  and  extermi 
nate  him.  Neither  give  nor  take  quarter.  The  time  has  come  when  all 
qualms  of  conscience  as  to  violating  state  or  national  laws  must  be 
disregarded,  as  your  rights  and  property  are  in  danger.  It  is  enough 
that  the  slaveholding  interest  wills  it,  from  which  there  is  no  appeal. 

"Special  Order  No.  15.     Blue  Lodge  No.  10,  S.  of  S. 

"To  Pat  Malone, — A  member  in  good  and  regular  standing  of  Blue 
Lodge  No.  10,  S.  of  S. 

"  Whereas,  one  Edward  Langtry  of  Walnut  Grove,  has  in  various 
ways  proven  himself  the  deadly  enemy  of  our  institutions,  the  success 
of  the  objects  for  which  we  have  banded  ourselves  together,  and  the 
triumph  of  our  cause,  demand  that  he  be  taken  care  of. 

"  Special  Order  No.  16,  Blue  Lodge  No.  10,  S.  of  S. 

"To  Pat  Malone  is  delegated  the  execution  of  Special  Order  No.  15. 
If  not  executed  within  thirty  days,  the  solemn  oaths  taken  by  said 
Pat  Malone  to  obey  all  orders  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  S.  of  S. 
shall  be  declared  violated,  and  himself  be  given  over  to  the  vengeance 
due,  under  the  laws  of  the  lodge  of  which  he  is  a  member. 

(Signed)  W.  H.  MARKS,  Sec." 

Agnes  read  the  paper  through  with  a  blanched  face, 
and  then  sank  into  a  chair,  overcome  with  terror. 

"But  you  will  not  do  this  wrong?  You  will  not*  obey 
this  order?"  she  sobbed  appealingly. 

"  Not  if  it  coshts  me  life,  leddy.  Pat  Malone  niver 
forgits  sich  kindness  as  yours;  but  it's  not  long  they'll  wait 
for  the  likes  o'  me,  and  so  if  you  could  be  afther  persuadin' 
of  'im  to  sell  out  and  move  away,  it  would  be  healthier  for 
'im,  I'm  thinkin'.  It's  lavin'  I'll  be  myself  afore  long;  but 
kape  the  sacret,  pl'ase,  or  I'll  niver  get  away  wid  a  head  on 
me  shoulders;"  but  George's  footsteps  were  heard,  and  Pat 
disappeared  as  silently  as  he  had  come,  and  with  a  wreight 
upon  her  heart  which  almost  stifled  its  beating,  Agnes  retired 
to  rest.  To  rest — if  so  we  may  name  her  tossing  to  and  fro 


254  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

upon  her  couch,  and  starting  up  in  affright  from  the  visions  of 
that  medium  state,  between  sleep  and  waking,  which  is  peo 
pled  by  fears  with  horrible  specters  and  dragons,  and  over 
whose  crags  and  abysses  and  frightful  cliffs  sweep  dreadful 
storms,  and  from  which  she  awoke  pale  and  spiritless. 

On  her  husband's  arrival,  she  threw  herself  into  his  arms, 
and  begged  him  to  fly  from  the  Territory — to  abandon  all  they 
had  gained;  and  to  seek  a  home  beyond  the  agony  of  fear, 
and  out  of  the  reach  of  cowardly  assassins. 

But  he  smiled  incredulously  at  the  idea  of  danger. 

"  I  cannot  think,"  said  he,  "  that  the  leaders  of  this  pro- 
slavery  movement,  men  who  have  been  in  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States,  and  held  high  offices  in  their  own  States, 
would  countenance  assassination.  This  is  all  a  made-up 
scheme  to  alarm  me  into  moving  away.  Some  one  of  these 
fellows,  your  friend  Pat  Malone  himself,  perhaps,  wants  to 
get  possession  of  this  claim,  with  all  its  nice  improvements, 
when  they  have  induced  me  to  run  away  like  a  coward;"  then, 
as  she  still  clung  to  him,  sobbing:  "Come!  this  is  unworthy 
of  my  brave  little  wife,  who  so  lately  advised  a  young  South 
erner  concerning  his  duty.  Where  is  your  patriotism  now? 
Summon  it,  my  love.  I  must  follow  the  dictates  of  my  con 
science  and  take  my  chances.  You  would  yourself  despise 
me,  could  I  do  otherwise." 

Agnes  knew  this  to  be  true,  and  acknowledged  it  in  her 
calmer  moments,  but  the  clouds  of  apprehension  had  gath 
ered  in  that  once  clear  sky,  and  the  girlish  light-heartedness 
which  had  so  brightened  the  cabin  in  the  face  of  inconven 
ience  and  privation  of  every  kind,  was  powerless  to  dispel 
them. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

THE  NEW  HOUSE — SILE's  POPPIN* RAGE  AND  JEALOUSY. 

Silas  Hardiker  having  gone  from  home  to  attend  the 
session  of  the  Legislature  almost  immediately  after  John 
Alden's  suspicions  as  to  the  matrimonial  nature  of  his  atten 
tions  were  aroused,  and  having  remained  away  through  the 
months  of  July  and  August,  during  which  time  the  engage- 
merit  of  Grace  and  Arthur  had  taken  place,  and  all  prelimi 
naries  as  to  their  marriage  been  arranged,  Alden  had  given 
him  no  further  thought  as  a  possible  suitor. 

Grace  had  dismissed  the  suggestion  at  once  as  a  "  mere 
chimera  of  papa's  imagination." 

"  You  are  so  devoted  an  admirer  of  mine,  papa,  that  you 
see  a  lover  in  every  gentleman  who  happens  to  call  a  few 
times,  eligible  or  ineligible.  I'm  not  so  conceited,"  said  she, 
with  a  little  toss  of  the  head,  "  and  as  for  $ile  Hardiker  mak 
ing  love  to  me,  why  the  thought  is  too  ridiculous  for  any 
thing.  He  couldn't  make  a  p-p-p-proposal  if  he  tried  from 
n-n-now  till  next  fourth  of  July,"  mimicked  she. 

"  Well,  perhaps  not,"  said  John,  quieted  for  the  time,  but 
on  Sile's  return  he  fell  into  the  old  habit  of  dropping  in,  early 
in  the  evening,  smoking  and  talking  with  Alden  about  the 
crops,  and  later,  awkwardly  but  unobtrusively,  passing  to  the 
south  side,  where  the  young  folks, — the  ladies  wrapped  in 
shawls,  reluctant  to  give  up  their  social  meetings  in  the  open 
air — still  lingered.  Generally  he  sat  in  the  shadow  of  the 
house,  his  chair  tilted  back  until  his  head  rested  on  the  vine- 
covered  logs,  his  long  limbs  swinging  ungracefully,  and  his 

255 


256  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

large  hands  wandering,  now  to  his  head,  then  down  the  sides 
of  the  chair,  and  anon  into  the  depths  of  his  breeches  pockets^ 
in  search  of  a  resting-place. 

He  seldom  spoke,  unless  in  reply  to  a  direct  question 
addressed  to  him  by  some  one  of  the  group,  out  of  politeness, 
or  a  desire  to  witness  the  contortions  of  feature,  and  general 
muscular  contractions  necessary  to  bring  forth  an  answer. 
But  he  could  laugh  without  stuttering,  and  his  hearty  guffaw 
could  be  heard  loud  and  long,  when  any  little  witty  sally 
from  Grace  called  forth  the  merriment  of  the  company,  and 
this  note  of  applause,  which  was  sure  to  follow,  led  her,  it  is 
to  be  feared,  to  unprecedented  efforts  at  repartee. 

John  Alden  watched  him  closely  when  not  engaged  with 
friends  and  neighbors  who  had  graver  subjects  to  discuss,  as 
he  became  more  and  more  anxious  to  know  his  object,  but 
could  discover  nothing,  and  postponed  from  day  to  day  his 
intention  of  questioning  him,  hoping  that  he  came  merely  to 
pass  away  time,  which  hung  heavily  on  his  hands. 

His  mother  came  with  him  but  once  or  twice  during  the 
early  part  of  the  month;  latterly  she  had  gone  to  Lauderdale 
and  Kansas  City  to  procure  furniture  for  the  new  house,  which 
had  arisen,  as  if  by  magic,  during  the  summer  months,  and  now 
stood  completed.  On  Grace's  announcement  of  this  fact  at 
the  breakfast  table  one  morning,  John  could  not  but  exclaim: 

"  Completed!  well,  I'm  sorry  for  it.  That  woman  needs 
some  engrossing  occupation  to  keep  her  out  of  mischief; 
Heaven  knows  what  she'll  be  up  to  now!" 

"  Now,  papa,  you're  too  bad!"  said  Grace;  "she  tries  so 
hard  to  improve,  and,  in  fact,  I  think  her  earnest  efforts  are 
beginning  to  tell.  She  tones  down  her  dress  a  little;  don't 
she,  mamma? " 

"I  wish  she  would  tone  down  her  voice  a  little,"  said 
John;  "it  is  harsh  and  loud,  besides,  there  is  something  sug 
gestive  of  wickedness  in  it." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  257 

"  Your  old  theory,"  said  Amy. 

"  Yes,  and  you'll  find  it  a  correct  one.  There  is  no  out 
ward  or  audible  sign  so  strongly  indicative  of  character  as  the 
tones  of  the  human  voice,  which,  once  heard,  it  needs  but  a 
quick  ear  and  a  clear  and  experienced  perception  to  produce 
an  accurate  conclusion  as  to  the  general  drift  of  a  person's 
disposition  and  character;  and,  to  one  of  thoughtful  observa 
tion,  such  a  conclusion  is  well  nigh  infallible.  In  this  case,  to 
my  ear  they  are  quite  distinct,  and  run  the  whole  gamut  of 
selfishness,  from  a  desire  to  appropriate  everything  which  can 
in  any  way  benefit  herself,  to  unrelenting  vengeance  and  un 
limited  capacity  of  persecution  of  those  who  fail  to  gratify 
her  wishes,  or  who  thwart  her  purposes." 

"  Well,  all  she  wants  of  us  is,  to  4  larn  the  ways  of  quality,' " 
said  Grace,  "and  you  know,  papa,  we  are  commanded  to  let 
our  light  shine." 

"  Very  true,  Miss;  but  you  know,  too,  there  is  something 
in  that  same  good  Book  about  casting  your  pearls  before 
swine." 

"  Lest  they  turn  again  and  rend  you,"  laughed  she;  "  well, 
I  hope  she  won't  do  that." 

"  But  what  would  you  have  us  do?  "  inquired  Amy,  with  a 
troubled  face.  "I'm  sure  I  don't  enjoy  her  society,  but  when 
she  comes  so  good-naturedly  asking  for  information  on  certain 
points,  and  seems  so  desirous  to  improve,  can  we  shut  the 
door  in  her  face?  " 

And  here,  as  often  happens  with  the  wiseacre,  Alden's 
wisdom  was  at  fault.  It  is  easy  enough  for  the  black  birds 
of  evil  omen  to  flutter  their  wings  and  cry  out  danger,  b;il 
only  the  eagle  eye  of  omniscience,  scouring  the  whole  sce;u 
from  above  and  beyond  its  perils,  can  point  out  the  path  of 
avoidance,  if  such  path  there  be.  So  he  only  took  up  his 
hat  to  go  to  work,  saying: 

"  Well,  I  don't   know   exactly  what  you  had  best  do   at 
16 


258  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

present,  only  try  and  prevent  her  misunderstanding  your  kind 
ness,  and  interpreting  it  as  a  desire  for  closer  relations." 

To  the  great  dismay  of  Mrs.  Alden  and  Grace,  after  the 
expressed  misgiving  of  Mr.  Alden  as  to  the  reliability  of 
their  Missouri  friends,  which  they  had  laughed  at  as  only 
"father's  prejudices,"  Sile  made  his  appearance  soon  after 
noon  of  that  same  day,  conveying  an  invitation  from  his 
mother,  requesting  them  to  come  over  and  view  the  new 
house,  and  eat  a  5  o'clock  dinner.  Mr.  Alden  was  also  in 
vited,  and  Grace  went  out  to  the  field  where  he  was  at  work, 
as  the  envoy  most  likely  to  succeed  in  reconciling  him  to 
their  going,  and  winning  an  acceptance  of  the  invitation  for 
himself. 

She  was  gone  some  time,  and  her  mother  judged  rightly 
in  inferring  that  she  found  it  difficult  to  persuade  him  to 
say  yes. 

He  also  found  it  difficult  to  put  Grace  off  with  no,  and 
she  finally  came  back  with  the  intelligence  that  her  papa  had 
reluctantly  consented  to  their  going,  and  would  come  to  escort 
them  home  soon  after  5  o'clock,  but  that  he  resolutely  refused 
to  dine  with  the  Hardikers,  and  they  must  excuse  him  as  best 
they  could. 

This  dampened  the  ladies'  spirits  somewhat,  but  they  had 
promised  long  since  to  return  the  widow's  numerous  visits 
when  the  new  house  should  be  finished ;  besides,  they  were 
very  curious  to  see  the  inside  of  it,  so  they  made  ready  as 
quickly  as  possible.  Arthur  was  absent  at  the  time,  attending 
the  White  Springs  Convention,  or  they  would  have  had  an  ad 
ditional  opposing  element  to  contend  with,  which  might  have 
stayed  them. 

After  a  delightful  drive,  which  they  really  enjoyed,  they 
neared  the  new  frame  house.  It  was  painted  white,  and 
towered  above  its  fellows,  though  only  relatively  large,  and 
would  have  passed  unnoticed,  save  for  newness,  in  any  mod- 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  259 

erate-sized  Northern  village.  Yet,  there  were  few  private 
residences  of  equal  size  in  the  Territory  at  that  time,  it  being 
perhaps  twenty-eight  feet  front,  a  piazza  extending  across  the 
whole  length,  and  a  square  cupola  finishing  off  the  roof.  Its 
position  was  certainly  very  fine,  and  it  was  visible  from  a 
distance,  in  consequence  of  the  eminence  on  which  it  stood. 

They  paused  for  a  moment  on  the  piazza,  to  enjoy  the 
view,  the  eye  following  involuntarily  the  waving  lines  of 
the  creek  on  one  side,  and  the  more  distant  river  on  the  other, 
the  reflection  of  the  afternoon  sun  bringing  out  in  solid  re 
lief  the  gorgeous  coloring  of  the  many-hued  trees  which 
marked  their  courses,  beyond  which  lowered  in  the  clear  at 
mosphere  the  bald  bluffs  capped  with  stone. 

The  hostess  came  forward  to  receive  them,  with  a  smirk 
of  satisfaction  and  a  voice  whose  tones  disturbed  the  pleasant 
thoughts  awakened  by  the  lovely  scene. 

"How  air  you?  You  look  right  peart,"  and  then  she 
led  the  way  into  the  parlor  to  the  left  of  the  hall,  pausing 
a  moment,  that  her  guests  might  be  properly  impressed 
with  its  grandeur.  A  red  and  yellow,  and  white  and 
blue  carpet,  a  lounge  covered  with  blue  damask,  six  cane- 
seated  chairs  and  two  rockers,  green  'paper  blinds,  shaded 
with  lace  curtains  looped  back  with  red  ribbons,  and  a  row 
of  hideous  lithographs  in  tawdry  gilt  frames,  hung  at  equal 
altitudes  and  distances  from  each  other  on  the  white  walls, 
with  a  stove  and  small  table,  comprised  the  furniture  of 
the  room. 

" 1  reckon  this  ere'll  do  to  bet  on,"  she  said. 

"  It  certainly  is  gorgeous"  replied  Grace,  while  Amy  re 
mained  silent,  thinking  that  furnishings  express  character  as 
well  as  voices,  and  then  self-reprovingly,  that,  as  this  cer 
tainly  expressed  a  striving  upward  for  higher  and  better 
things,  she  might  excuse  it.  But  the  widow  interpreted  her 
silence  as  occasioned  by  the  bitter  gnawings  of  jealousy,  for 


260  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

she  added,  sotto  vocc,  with  a  nudge,  as  she  led  the  way  into 
the  spare  bedroom  back  of  the  parlor,  Grace  remaining  a 
moment  behind : 

"  But  I  hain't  puffed  up  nor  nothin,'  and  ef  you'll  jine 
hands  with  me  yer  kin  have  a  kinder  sort  o'  half  interest  in 
this  hyer  set  out." 

Mrs.  Alden  made  no  reply,  not  knowing  what  to  say,  and 
Grace  appearing  at  that  moment,  the  widow,  with  a  wink, 
excused  her  from  answering. 

The  bedroom,  as  there  was  less  occasion  for  the  display  of 
magnificent  taste  and  the  production  of  gorgeous  effects,  pre 
sented  quite  a  comfortable  and  inviting  appearance,  notwith 
standing  the  bed  was  surmounted  by  a  quilt  of  wonderful 
design,  worked  out  in  blue,  and  red,  and  yellow,  and  green 
pieces  of  calico. 

"  This  is  my  piney  quilt;  pineys  an'  sunflowers  them  air. 
Ain't  it  some  on  style?  an'  didn't  cost  nary  red.  Salome  made 
it.  She's  the  nigger  sewin'  woman  I  told  you  about.  She's  a 
stavin'  hand  at  sewin' ;  did  this  hyer  all  after  work  hours." 

"  Poor  Salome,"  thought  Amy,  as  she  looked  at  the  many 
thousand  neat  stitches  so  deftly  set.  "  It  was  probably  a 
relief  to  her;  a  joy  thus  to  work  out  her  design  in  bright 
colors,  as  is  the  painting  of  the  picture  to  the  artist,  and  the 
song  to  the  poet." 

When  Mrs.  Alden  and  Grace  had  removed  their  wraps, 
she  led  them  across  the  hall  to  a  large  empty  room,  the  full 
length  of  the  east  side  of  the  house. 

"  Now,  this  is  what  Kernel  Delaney  calls  his  library. 
44  You  would  know  what  to  do  with  it,"  to  Grace;  "  but  we 
don't.  Sile  an'  me  don't  make  no  pretensions  to  book  larriin'. 
Sez  Sile  to  me  this  mornin',  sez  he,  4  Marm,  there's  jist  one 
mounting  as  money  won't  move,  an'  that's  larnin'." 

"  Not  even  niggers  can  do  that  for  you,"  said  Grace,  a 
little  maliciously. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  261 

"  Wall,  no,"  said  she,  pausing  to  look  Grace  directly  in 
the  face ;-"  but  there's  somebody  I  know  of  as  kin,  an'  as  I 
tole  Sile,  the  niggers,  an7  the  money,  an'  this  fine  house, 
oughter  bring  this  yer  person  round,"  and  as  she  led  the  way 
up  stairs,  "  When  a  trade's  on  hand  for  what  yer  want,  ye'vo 
got  ter  balance  the  scale,  an'  if  it  weighs  down  a  leetle  on  my 
side,  I  don't  keer,  s' long's  I  git  what  I'm  arter." 

It  was  becoming  plain  to  Amy  what  the  widow's  design 
was,  but  there  was  no  escape  until  Mr.  Alden  came,  and  that 
would  be  after  five  o'clock.  She  could  only  try  and  ward  off  a 
direct  understanding  by  resolutely  refusing  to  take  hints,  and 
directing  the  conversation  to  different  subjects.  She  looked  at 
Grace,  and  found  her  seemingly  unconscious.  She  could  get 
.no  answering  look.  It  was  as  well,  perhaps,  for  the  widow's 
sharp  eyes  were  flashing  from  one  to  the  pi  her,  as  if  to  read 
their  thoughts.  Grace  went  to  the  window  and  called  her 
mother's  attention  to  the  little  cabins  of  the  settlers  nestling 
'mid  patches  of  corn-fields,  the  cattle  grazing  in  small 
numbers  here  and  there,  and  then  to  the  sky  of  deep,  dark, 
unfathomable  blue,  with  heavy  masses  of  white  fleecy  clouds 
pillowed  in  the  east,  and  floating  hither  and  thither  in  frag 
mentary  fanciful  shapes,  lighted  up1  by  the  rays  of  the  sun 
now  sinking  rapidly  in  the  west.  They  gazed  admiringly 
and  in  silence,  until  Mrs.  Hardiker's  voice  recalled  them  to 
the  survey  of  the  rooms,  two  of  which  were  furnished  in  very 
good  style,  one  for  her  own  use  and  the  other,  she  said,  for 
her  son,  whose  ample  wardrobe  occupied  the  closets,  and 
whose  profuse  supply  of  jewelry  was  spread  out  upon  the 
bureau.  The  two  rooms  across  the  hall  and  over  the  library 
were  unfurnished. 

"Ye  see  I've  left  somethin'  fer  somebody  else'  to  do,"  said 
she,  with  a  knowing  wink. 

"  I  think  you  have  done  a  great  deal,"  said  Grace. 

"  Yes,   indeed,"   said    Mrs.  Alden,   "  and    considering    the 


262  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

disadvantages  we   labor  under  in  this  new  country,  you  have 
done  it  well." 

They  now  descended  to  the  parlor,  and  found  Sile  there, 
his  chair  tilted  back  and  himself  ready — after  he  had  gone  to 
the  window  and  ejected  the  tobacco  from  his  mouth  out  of 
deference  to  the  visitors — to  drink  in  every  word  of  conver 
sation,  and  every  look  and  motion  of  Grace;  and  in  his  eyes 
Amy  could  now  plainly  enough  discern  a  consuming  passion. 

Determined,  if  possible,  to  direct  the  conversation  to 
general  topics,  Mrs.  Alden  began  by  inquiring  concerning 
the  acts  of  the  Legislature,  of  which  he  gave  his  opinion  in 
his  broken  way — 

"F — f — fine  lot  o'  fellers;  h — h — had  a  r — r — rousin' 
good  time  down  thar.  P — passed  lors?  Y — y — yes,  a 
dog-gon  lot  on  'em;  m — m — mor'n  a  wagin'  load. 
R — reckon  t'war  all  right.  K — k — kernel  Delaney,  an'  ole 
D — D — Dave,  an'  D — D — Dock  Cornello  war  thar  runnin' 
things.  N — n — no  use'n  us  fellers  t — t — troublin'  ourselves 
a — a — about  it,  s'long's  the  ole  1 — 1 — long  heads  wor 
runnin'." 

"But  suppose  they  do  not  run  things  properly?"  sug 
gested  Mrs.  Aiden. 

He  wriggled  his  hands  about  in  the  depths  of  his  pockets, 
and  "R — r — reckoned  they  knew  what  they  war  about; 
1 — leastwise  they  oughter." 

"  They're  commin'  up  here  to-morrer,  Guvnur  an'  all," 
said  his  mother,  "  an'  I'm  goin'  ter  do  things  up  in  style,  you 
bet!  They're  both  widderers — the  Guvnur  an'  the  Kernel, 
— an'  Cornello  he's  an  ole  bach,  an'  if  I  hadn't  made  up  my 
min'  to  go  it  alone,  thar's  no  tellin'  what  might  happen. 
He's  a  peart-lookin'  ole  feller,  they  tell  me,  an'  Mrs.  Guvnur 
Harlan'  wouldn't  soun'  so  bad;  an'  ef  the  name  belonged  to 
me,  not  to  be  sneezed  at,"  said  she,  rising  and  strutting  before 
the  long  looking-glass,  at  which  Grace's  risibilities  could  be 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  263 

restrained  no  longer,  and  she  burst  into  a  peal  of  laughter,  in 
which  Sile  joined  with  his  loud  guffaw,  almost  upsetting  his 
chair,  as  he  said: 

"  D — d — darn  it,  inarm !  d — d — don't  make  a  fool  o' 
yerself !  " 

"  I  don't  intend  ter,"  said  she  snappishly,  interpreting  the 
reproof  as  meant  for  future  guidance,  rather  than  as  ap 
plicable  to  her  present  manners. 

"Didn't  I  say  I  meant  to  go  it  alone?"  but,  looking  at 
Amy,"  as  I  wor  tellin'  yer,  they're  commin',  the  Guvnur,  an' 
the  Kernel,  an'  ole  Dave,  an'  Dock  Cornello,  an'  Rev. 
Thomas  Jimson,  jist  as  many  as  kin  sleep  in  the  beds  in  this 
hyer  house,  'lowin  the  Guvnur  a  bed  to  hisself.  I  can  sleep 
'em  all  well  enough,  but  thar's  the  eatin'  part.  Sence  I've 
saw  you  do  it,  so  kinder  easy  and  peart  like,  an'  bin  down  ter 
Warsaw,  an'  took  dinner  with  Mis'  Dr.  Rulison,  I've  got  a 
sneakin'  notion  that  our  back  country  way  o'  settin'  down, 
an'  every  feller  pitchin'  in,  ain't 'zackly  the  style  for  this  hyer 
set  out." 

"  Have  you  been  to  see  Mrs.  Rulison  ?"  inquired  Grace  in 
a  surprised  tone. 

"You  bet!  Whar's  the  harm?  I  war  interdoosed  to  her 
on  the  4th  of  July,  an'  twar  only  manners  to  give  her  a  call, 
so  down  I  went,  a  month  ago,  with  my  best  harness  on,  an' 
when  I  knocked  she  came  to  the  door  herself,  reg'lar  abolition 
style;  a  mighty  peart-lookin'  little  critter  she  is,  too,  most  up 
to  you,"  with  a  toss  of  her  head  toward  Grace,  whereat  the 
latter  laughed,  and  Sile,  as  in  duty  bound,  laughed  also. 
"Leastwise  she's  as  smilin'  as  a  basket  o'  chips,  an'  not  stuck 
up  nuther.  She  asked  me  in,  inquired  about  my  family,  an' 
I  tole  her  that  I  was  a  widder  an'  hadn't  only  one  son,  an' 
he  wor  in  the  Legislater,  an'  that  I  hed  hed  a  new  house 
built,  an'  wanted  to  know  how  ter  furnish  it,  an'  she  took  me 
all  over  hern,  an' tole  me  I  mi^ht  jist  copy  anything  I  wanted 


264  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

ter.  An'  then  she  asked  me  to  stay  to  dinner,  an'  the  table 
wor  full  o'  people  who  had  jist  come  inter  the  Territory,  an' 
I  wor  a  keepin'  my  eyes  open  to  everything,  an'  I  saw  as  how 
she  waited  on  'em  jist  as  you  do."  Turning  to  Amy,  "  Now 
I'm  mighty  feered  that's  jist  whar  I'll  git  stuck  to-morrer, 
with  all  them  thar  big  bugs  starin'  at  me,  an'  I  wanted  yer 
to  come  to-day  an'  kind  o'  post  me  up  like. 

"  I've  got  a  good  cook — brung  her  up  from  Westport — 
got  her  cheap  of  the  man  who  raised  her,  'cos  the  dratted 
critter  wor  makin'  a  fool  o'  herself  cryin'  after  her  ole  man 
wot  hed  bin  sold  South.  She's  pickin'  up  a  little,  an'  gittin' 
kind  o'  peart  agin'  up  here,  but  I'm  mighty  feered  some  o' 
the  Yanks  round  the  Grove  will  git  hold  on  her  an'  ship  her 
off  to  Nebrasky.  None  on 'em  too  good  to  do  it,"  said  she, 
rocking  her  chair  violently  for  a  few  moments,  then  glancing 
up  at  her  son,  she  arose,  saying: 

"  Come,  Miss  Alden,  please,  inter  the  dinin'-room  with  me. 
I  reckon  them  gals  hez  got  the  table  all  sot,  an'  you  kin  tell 
me  ef  it's  all  right  on  the  goose;  that's  one  reason  why  I  wor 
partickler  urgin'  fer  yer  to  cum  to-day." 

This  was  so -ne what  reassuring,  and  Mrs.  Alden  followed 
her  cheerfully.  Grace  rose  to  come  also,  but  Mrs.  Hardiker 
turned  to  her: 

"  Oh,  no,  neow!  yer  jist  stay  here  an'  keep  the  Squire  com 
pany  till  yer  mur  an'  I  git  the  dinner  sot  out  in  style,  an'  then 
we'll  ask  yer  to  step  out." 

"  Shall  we  play  we  are  your  distinguished  guests  of  to 
morrow?"  inquired  Grace,  laughingly. 

"  That's  it,  egzackly !  "  and  then  she  led  Amy  out  into  tne 
hall  and  back  past  the  stairway  to  the  door  at  the  north, 
which  led  into  the  dining-room.  They  found  the  table  with 
plates  laid,  and  other  accessories  placed  on  it  at  random,  in 
the  awkward  confusion  into  which  ignorant  or  careless  ser 
vants  invariably  fall.  Mrs.  Alden  went  toward  it  and  re- 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  265 

arranged  several  dishes,  placing  things  in  their  proper  place-, 
and  called  Mrs.  Hardiker's  attention  to  the  change. 

"  Yas,  I  see,"  with  a  kind  of  a  chuckle.  "  Set  down,  I 
want  to  tell  yer,"  and  she  drew  a  chair  away  from  the  dining 
table  for  her  visitor,  and  another  for  herself;  "  Sile's  a-goin' 
ter  pop — "  leaning  over  and  slapping  Mrs.  Alden  familiarly 
on  the  knee,  at  which  that  lady  involuntarily  drew  back. 

"  Ye  needn't  be  skeer't;  he'll  do  it  all  up  right,  jist  now, 
an'  then  we'll  all  set  down  to  dinner  kind  o'  easy  an'  family 
like.  I've  bin  eg'gin  ov  him  on  from  the  fust,  an'  t'wor 
mighty  hard  bringin'  him  up  to  the  scratch;  though,  Lord 
knows,  he's  bilin'  all  over  with  love  for  that  gal  o'  yourn,  but 
you  see  he's  so  bashful-like,  an'  so  feered  she  wouldn't  hev 
him— an'  he  ain't  no  talker,  nohow.  But  last  night,  when  we 
wor  settin'  in  this  hyer  house  for  the  fust  time,  sez  he  to  me, 
sez  he: 

" c  Marm,  I've  sot  my  heart  on  that  gal,  an'  'pears  like  ef 
I  don't  git  her  I  shall  bust,'  an'  sez  he,  clown  in  the  mouth 
like,  '  I  don't  bleeve  she  keers  a  mite  for  me.' 

"'  Lord,' sez  1,'Sile  Hardiker,  ye  don't  know  nothin'  'bout 
gals,  ef  ye  air  a  Squire.  They  won't  fall  inter  yer  mouth 
like  ripe  plums.  Ye  hain't  so  much  as  asked  her.  How'd  ye 
know  she  don't  keer  fer  ye?  How  does  she  know  ye  keer 
fer  her,  when  all  you  do's  look  at  her?" 

"  That's  so,"  said  Mrs.  Alden,  interrupting  her  mono 
logue  ;  "  I  do  not  think  Grace  has  ever  suspected  that  he  cared 
for  her  other  than  as  a  friend."  But  any  suggestion  of 
Amy's  was  as  powerless  to  stop  this  outpouring  as  her  feeble 
strength  would  have  been  to  resist  the  torrent  that  pours 
down  the  mountain  side,  or  the  mill-wheel  in  its  revolutions. 

"  That's  jest  what  I  told  him ;  an',  sez  I, c  mebbe  you'll  hev 
to  go  on  yer  bended  knees;  gals  is  notional,  an'  likes  to  be 
coaxed — they're  all  alike;  bein'  a  woman  myself,  I  ought  ter 
know;  but  that  ain't  nothin'  when  yc  git  used  to  it.' 


266  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  '  Marm,'  scz  he,  an',  Miss  Alden,  he  wor  actoolly  cryin', 
an'  he  tuk  out  his  new  red  an'  white  hankerchief  to  wipe  his 
eyes,  an'  sez  he : 

"c  Marm,  I'd  pray  from  now  till  kingdom  come  ef  t' would 
do  any  good.  She's  the  peartest  critter  in  these  hyer  parts; 
an'  ef  I  don't  git  her,  I  don't  keer  a  dog-gon  for  anythin.' 

"Sez  I, 'Sile,  don't  yer  be  a  fool.  I'm  sot  on  that  gal  my 
self,  so  ye  jist  go  in  ter  win,  an'  I'll  back  yer.  I  never  come 
out  of  the  little  end  of  the  horn  yit,  an'  I  won't  this  time,  you 
bet ! '  An'  then  we  made  it  up  that  he  was  to  bring  you  over 
here  to-day,  an'  when  he  got  a  chance  he  were  to  up  an'  at 
her,  an'  not  take  no  for  an  answer." 

Amy  started  up,  and  turned  toward  the  parlor,  but  the 
widow  put  her  hand  out  to  delay  her: 

"  Don't  go  fer  to  interrupt  him  now.  He  sot  thar  lookin' 
at  her  till  he  couldn't  hold  out  any  longer,  an'  I'll  be  bound 
he's  poppinV 

"  But  I  must  go!  Grace  might  be  alarmed  if  he  is  persist 
ent,  and  she  cannot  marry  him — she  is  already  engaged." 

"  Engaged!  Can't  marry  him!  "  she  shrieked,  all  her  ear 
nestness  of  feeling  turned  in  a  moment  into  wrath,  which  no 
sense  of  propriety  had  ever  taught  her  to  restrain;  "an'  yer 
hev  bin  incouragin'  my  son  to  go  kadovelin  round  yer  place, 
keepin'  company  with  her  all  summer,  an' me  a  visitin'  o'  yer, 
an'  givin'  yer  a  present  of  a  pure-blooded  pony.  I'll  have  my 
revenge,  I  will!  Ef  she  won't  hev  my  Sile,  she  can't  hev  any 
feller,  there !"  and  she  went  foaming  and  raging  after  Mrs. 
Alden  through  the  hall  and  into  the  parlor,  where,  as  the  lat 
ter  threw  open  the  door,  Sile  stood  alone,  with  flashing  eyes. 

"  Grace!  "  called  she.  "  Oh,  Mr.  Hardiker!  where  is  my 
daughter?" 

"D-d-damn  your  daughter!  "  stuttered  Sile,  striding  off,  and 
she  heard  his  footsteps  as  they  fell  heavily  on  the  uncarpeted 
floor  of  the  hall,  and  the  back  door  slammed  behind  him. 


268  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

When  the  widow  and  Mrs.  Alden  left  the  parlor,  Grace 
was  seated  on  the  lounge,  and  Sile,  with  his  chair  tilted  back 
ward,  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  room.  When  they  had 
fairly  disappeared,  and  the  door  was  closed  behind  them,  his 
chair  came  down  to  a  level,  his  hands  came  out  of  his  pockets 
and,  clasping  his  ringers,  he  began  to  twirl  his  thumbs  and 
cast  sidelong  glances  at  his  companion,  in  such  a  comical) 
sheepish-looking  way  that  she  could  scarcely  conceal  her 
amusement,  but  sat  silently  enjoying  his  evident  embarrass 
ment  for  some  moments,  until  he  broke  the  silence,  with : 

"You're  m-m-mighty  purty,  Miss  Grace." 

"  Do  you  think  so?     Well,  I'm  not  a  bit  good." 

"  Lord  knows,  you're  too  g-g-good  for  me!"  with  a  sigh, 
and  a  vigorous  thrusting  of  his  hands  in  his  pockets. 

"  I  r-r-reckon  now  you  think  I'm  n-n-nothin'  but  an  on- 
gainly  oneddicated  feller — wh-wh-white  trash — not  good 
enough  f-f-for  you  to  wipe  yer  feet  on — an  I  h-h-hain't, 
nuther." 

Touched  by  this  self-depreciation,  and  his  sorrowful  tone 
of  voice  and  accompanying  sigh,  Grace  answered,  with  an  ear 
nest  shake  of  the  head : 

"  Indeed,  no,  Mr.  Hardiker;  I  think  you  are  a  very  good- 
hearted  sort  of  a  man,  and  I  know  you  can  improve  in  every 
respect,  if  you  try." 

He  had  turned  his  large  black  eyes  full  upon  her  as  she 
began  to  speak,  and  the  kind  tone  and  encouraging  words 
flashed  a,  ray  of  hope  to  mingle  with  his  overpowering  desire. 

"Then  you'll  hev  me — you'll  be  my  wife?"  he  cried? 
springing  from  his  seat  and  coming  toward  her,  just  as  she 
had  risen  with  the  intention  of  leaving  the  room. 

Misunderstanding  her  action,  as  well  as  her  speech,  he 
threw  his  long  arms  around  her  and  drew  her  toward  him,  the 
fire  of  consuming  passion  flashing  from  his  eyes,  sending  a 
thrill  of  terror  and  .indignation  to  her  heart,  terror  which 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  269 

blanched    her   cheek,  and  anger  which   gave  her  voice,  and 
manner  to  exclaim  imperatively,  looking  him  full  in  the  face; 

"Let  me  go,  sir!  You  misunderstand  me  entirely,"  at 
which  he  partially  released  her,  but  falling  upon  his  knees, 
the  excitement  of  the  moment  partially  overcoming  the  im 
pediment  in  his  speech,  cried  out: 

'•I  1-love  you!  I  love  you?  I  know  yer  m-m-mighty  fur 
above  me.  I  n-n-never  ought  to  a  dreamt  on  it,  but  I  hev, 
an'  I  can't  an'  won't  giv  yer  up.  I'll  s-sarve  ye  all  yer  days, 
like  a  b-born  slave,  ef  ye'll  be  my  wife.  You  shan't  want 
f-f-fer  nothin'  s' long's  there's  a  dollar  or  a  nigger  b'longin' 
to  me." 

"Oh,  I  cannot!  Indeed,  Mr.  Hardiker,  I  cannot,"  said 
Grace,  drawing  her  hands  from  him  and  turning  toward  the 
hall  door;  but  he  was  too  quick  for  her;  springing  up  and 
placing  his  back  against  it,  his  voice  losing  the  pleading  tone 
in  that  of  harsh  demand: 

"Why  can't  yer?  Am  I  sich  a  p-p-pore,  sneakin',  d — d  drot- 
ted  fool  that  you  can't  ab-b-bide  me." 

"  No,  oh  no !  but  I  am  engaged  to  another,"  she  gasped. 

"  The  d-devil  you  air!  Some  darned  white-livered  Abo 
litionist,  I'll  be  bound,"  stamping  his  feet  in  a  rage.  "  I-I-I'll 
take  care  of  him!  who  is  he?"  but  Grace  in  her  despair  had 
turned  to  the  door  of  the  bedroom,  and  before  he  could  stop 
her  had  passed  out  and  from  thence  to  the  dining  room 
beyond,  then  out  of  doors  and  around  to  the  front  of  the 
house,  from  whence,  hearing  her  mother's  frightened  call,  she 
stepped  up  to  the  piazza,  and  replied: 

"Here  mamma,  come  out  here." 

No  castaway  on  barren  isle,  no  weary  traveler  on  sandy 
desert  ever  more  warmly  welcomed  friendly  sail,  or  hailed  with 
more  joy  the  sight  of  a  blooming  oasis,  than  did  Grace  and  her 
mother  the  coming  of  her  father,  whose  welcome  visage  ap 
pearing  in  the  distance,  and  coming  swiftly,  relieved  them 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 


from  their  painful  situation.  The  widow  had  followed  them 
to  the  piazza  with  her  revilings,  which  they  endured  in  silence, 
after  vain  attempts  to  explain  their  position,  and  make  clear  to 
her,  that  their  kindly  acts  had  been  only  tokens  of  friendship 
in  good  faith,  which  efforts  were  received  as  retorts,  and  only 
added  fuel  to  the  flames  of  her  anger,  which  poured  forth  in 
a  torrent  of  burning  and  scathing  epithets  and  accusations, 
destroying  in  their  flow  all  vestiges  of  the  respect  and  kindly 
feeling  which  they  had  so  carefully  cultivated  for  the  good- 
naturcd,  well-meaning  woman,  they  had  supposed  her  to  be. 

When  Mr.  Alden  had  reached  the  piazza,  under  the 
shadow  of  his  protecting  arm  Amy  went  into  the  bedroom 
for  their  wraps,  without  which  they  were  shivering  in  the 
frosty  evening  air.  They  hastily  put  them  on,  and  when  they 
had  been  assisted  into  the  rough  lumber  wagon,  whose  broad 
bed  and  springless  seats  seemed  a  secure  place  of  refuge, 
Grace  poured  forth  her  story  into  sympathizing  ears. 

She  was  full  of  self-reproach  for  the  familiarity  which  had 
rendered  this  presumption  possible,  and  yet  said  she,  smiling: 

"How  should  I  know?" 

"How,  indeed,"  said  her  father.  "Characters  are  like 
chemicals,  new  mixtures  sometimes  produce  unexpected  and 
startling  effects." 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

DEPREDATIONS     ON      ARTHUR'S      CLAIM BURNING     OF      HIS   , 

HOUSE. 

The  wrath  of  the  Hardikers,  when  the  ebullition  of  words 
ceased,  became  a  smoldering  fire,  impossible  to  quench,  and 
bursting  forth  with  renewed  vigor  and  energy  at  unlocked  for 
times  and  places. 

That  very  night  the  beautiful  pony  which  Grace  so  loved 
was  turned  loose  from  the  stable,  maimed  beyond  help,  this 
cruel  act  making  it  impossible  for  Alden  to  return  it  on 
demand,  and  grieving  the  heart  of  its  young  mistress.  Then 
began  depredations  on  Arthur's  claim,  for  of  course  they  soon 
learned  who  it  was  that  had  been  preferred,  and  were  in 
capable  of  comprehending  the  patent  fact,  that  constitutional 
and  educational  differences  would  in  any  event  have  proved 
an  impassable  barrier  to  the  accomplishment  of  their  desires. 
They  bent  all  their  energies  toward  driving  him  from  the 
Territory,  setting  the  very  spirit  of  mischief  to  work  those 
small  ills  which  goad  the  flesh  like  pins,  wearying  and  wear 
ing  upon  the  proudest  spirit. 

Carr  Withers,  it  must  be  remembered,  had  an  old  grudge 
against  Arthur  and  the  Walnut  Grove  Association,  and  it 
was  an  easy  matter  to  persuade  him  that  he  had  a  right  to 
cut  the  valuable  timber  on  Arthur's  claim,  and  that  to  him 
belonged  the  fresh  lime  in  Arthur's  kiln.  Remembering  former 
experience,  he  chose  the  darkness  of  the  night-time  for 
the  prosecution  of  his  labors  and  the  wreaking  of  the  secret 

271 


272  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

vengeance,  a  desire   for  which   fie    had    long    and  patiently 
nursed. 

It  was  not  until  Arthur's  return  from  Topeka  that  these 
trespasses  were  discovered,  and  accustomed  as  he  was  to  the 
Northern  method  of  settling  all  such  clashing  of  claims,  he  at 
once  sent  a  notice  to  Carr  Withers  of  his  willingness  to  meet 
him  before  arbiters  selected  from  both  sides,  and  to  them  sub- 
,  mit  evidence  of  his  right  to  hold  the  land  in  dispute  under 
the  unwritten  law  of  squatters'  rights.  No  notice  was  taken 
of  this,  but  the  depredations  still  continued,  bidding  fair  to 
denude  the  claim  of  timber,  in  which  its  value  chiefly  con 
sisted.  Then  Arthur  went  before  the  justice  of  the  peace 
for  the  neighborhood,  with,  however,  small  hope  of  obtaining 
relief,  as  the  justice  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  Legis 
lature  belonged  to  the  opposing  party,  and  the  writ,  if  issued, 
must  be  served  by  Zeke  Fagin,  who  was  sheriff  of  the  county. 
But  it  was  his  only  recourse,  and  he  made  affidavit  as  to  the 
damage  done,  charging  it  upon  Carr  Withers  and  others,  and 
then  endeavored  to  await  the  result  with  patience.  The  first, 
in  fact,  the  only  fruits  of  this  attem'pt  to  obtain  redress,  was  a 
characteristic  warning  tacked  to  the  door  of  the  cabin  and 
signed  by  the  secretary  of  Blue  Lodge  No.  10,  "  S.  of  S.," 
suggesting  in  words  more  forcible  than  elegant,  that  the 
climate  of  Nebraska  would  be  healthier  for  said  Arthur  Fair- 
child,  against  whom  was  enumerated  a  long  list  of  offences 
against  the  slave  institution.  Ten  days  were  given  him  in 
which  to  remove  himself  and  his  effects  beyond  the  juris 
diction  of  said  lodge,  after  which  time  should  he  be  found  in 
Kansas,  his  life  was  declared  forfeit. 

A  similar  notice  was  found  on  the  door  of  Alden's  cabin, 
but  both  he  and  Arthur  pocketed  the  papers  quietly,  and 
pursued  the  even  tenor  of  their  way.  John  was  engaged  in 
gathering  the  fully-ripened  corn,  and  carrying  what  he  could 
spare  to  market,  storing  away  a  winter  stock  of  vegetables, 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  273 

selling  the  surplus,  for  which  there  was  great  demand,  build 
ing  shelter  for  the  stock,  and  otherwise  preparing'  for  the 
approaching  winter,  of  which,  however,  he  had  small  dread, 
expecting,  as  he  did,  that  it  would  resemble  the  one  he  had 
already  spent  in  the  Territory. 

Arthur's  time  was  given  to  superintending,  and  assisting  in 
the  erection  of  the  house  for  his  bride,  into  which  he  had  put 
most  of  his  patrimony,  relying  upon  his  own  industry  to  win 
from  the  prolific  soil  a  support  and  competence  afterward; 
and  with  all  the  pride  of  a  young  and  ardent  lover  for  whom 
waits  the  dearest  object  of  his  desire,  he  looked  upon  the  walls 
now  completed  and  roofed  in. 

It  was  the  first  stone  house,  and  by  far  the  most  comforta 
ble  and  roomy  in  the  settlement,  and  within  the  Alden 
household  there  was  an  air  of  preparation  for  the  event  which 
was  to  follow  its  completion. 

Arthur's  demeanor  was  singularly  calm  and  cheerful,  and 
notwithstanding  the  threats,  the  intrusions,  and  the  annoy 
ances,  otherwise  sufficient  to  have  disheartened  him,  he 
seemed  supremely  happy. 

The  gentle  concern  manifested  by  Grace  at  his  necessary 
absences,  the  glad  smile  with  which  she>  greeted  his  coming, 
the  sweet  sense  of  being  cared  for,  which,  under  other  and 
happier  circumstances,  might  have  been  less  plainly  manifest, 
was  a  rich  draught  for  the  hungry  heart  which  had  waited 
long  for  the  first  blossoming  of  reciprocation. 

But  there  came  a  night  when  he  waked  from  rosy  dreams 
of  love  to  find  his  cabin  in  flames,  with  but  time  to  gather 
up  the  most  necessary,  articles  of  clothing,  and  make  his 
escape. 

Crushed   to   the   earth,  he  cried  out  with   white  lips   and 

voice  of  anguish:     "  Now,  indeed, am  I  undone!'7  as,  standing 

upon  the  door-steps  of  Alden's  cabin,  from  whence  the   new 

building  was  more  plainly  visible  than  from  his   own,  he  saw 

17 


274  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

the  yellow  flames  curling  in  and  out  of  its  windows  and 
doors,  and  bursting  from  the  roof,  beneath  which  had  clustered 
all  his  anticipations  of  domestic  bliss. 

Higher  and  higher,  against  the  midnight  sky,  the  flames 
arose,  remorselessly  eating  out  every  vestige  of  woodwork, 
sparkling  and  crackling  as  if  in  fiendish  joy  at  the  ruin  they 
had  wrought,  then,  as  the  walls  fell,  a  smoke-stained,  broken 
heap,  leaping  over  the  masses  of  sand  and  stone  and  earth, 
they  reached  the  tall  spires  of  dry  grass,  and,  still  chuckling, 
swept  on  far  and  wide  over  the  prairies,  and  up  the  sides  of 
the  bluffs  in  the  distance,  a  moving  wall  of  fire,  sparing 
naught  in  its  progress,  and  leaving  a  blackened,  desolate 
stretch  of  country  for  miles  around.  The  houses  and  barns  of 
settlers  were  only  saved  by  the  hasty  burning  of  fire  guards 
around  their  premises. 

The  necessity  for  immediate  exertion  to  save  Alden's 
home  was  a  godsend  to  Arthur,  tiding  him  over  the  first 
sickening  feelings  of  despair,  as  it  required  all  the  men's 
strength  and  activity,  with  the  assistance  of  Amy  and  Grace, 
to  guide  the  fire  they  were  obliged  to  set  out,  and  prevent  the 
dangerous  ally  called  to  their  assistance  from  escaping  control, 
and  turning  its  destructive  powers  upon  themselves.  But, 
when  all  danger  was  over,  and,  weary  and  covered  with 
smoke  and  cinders,  they  sat  down  within  the  house  in  the 
cool  calm  of  a  frosty  October  morning,  a  sense  of  the  magni 
tude  of  his  loss  returned  with  overwhelming  force. 

Amy  alone  seemed  to  have  retained  the  power  of  motion, 
for  after  a  little  time  she  stirred  up  the  fire  which  was  smol 
dering  upon  the  hearth, and  began  preparations  for  breakfast; 
but  Alden,  Grace  and  Arthur  sat  motionless,  and  in  silence. 
John  would  have  comforted  the  young  man,  but  he  knew  not 
how — all  words  at  his  command  seemed  so  inadequate;  but 
at  length  Arthur  himself  broke  the  silence.  Lifting  his  eyes, 
which  had  been  fixed  on  the  coals,  he  said : 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  275 

"  Grace." 

She  looked  at  him  with  sympathy  in  her  honest  brown 
eyes. 

"  I  am  a  sorry  bridegroom,  Grace,  with  naught  to  offer 
you  but  empty  hands." 

Summoning  a  roguish  smile,  and  the  playful  manner 
which  so  well  became  her,  she  replied: 

"  Not  quite  so  bad  as  that,  Arthur.  They've  left  us  tim 
ber  enough  for  a  log  cabin,  I  think." 

"  The  words,  the  tone,  the  manner,  and,  above  all,  the  use 
of  the  pronoun  us,  which  implied  so  much,  had  the  effect 
upon  him  of  a  powerful  stimulus. 

It  was  another  draught,  with  a  deeper  flavor  from  the 
enchanted  cup.  Tears  came  to  his  eyes,  but  they  were  tears 
of  joy,  as  he  arose,  and  crossing  the  room  to  where  she  sat, 
looked  down  lovingly  upon  the  dear  girl,  who  put  forth  her 
hand  to  grasp  his  own. 

"I  am  indeed  rich,  thank  Heaven!  while  so  true,  so  brave 
a  heart  is  all  my  own." 

And  now,  with  a  sense  of  renewed  hopefulness,  they  made 
ready  for  breakfast.  Grace  went  upstairs  to  arrange  her 
toilet,  while  Arthur  and  John  washed  their  grimy  hands  and 
faces,  laughingly  piecing  out  the  former's  limited  wardrobe 
with  a  coat  of  Alden's  that  fitted  his  trim  figure  as  neatly, 
perhaps,  as  the  clothing  of  the  average  plainsman.  Arthur 
was  obliged  also  to  borrow  John's  hat  and  overcoat,  when, 
during  the  day,  he  went  down  to  Warsaw  to  replenish  his 
wardrobe,  and  carry  to  the  postoffice  a  letter  written  to  his 
parents,  detailing  his  grievances,  and  modestly  requesting  a 
loan  for  the  relief  of  his  present  necessities. 

Then  again  he  went  before  the  justice  of  the  peace,  this 
time  adding  the  name  of  Silas  Hardiker  to  that  of  Withers, 
in  his  complaint,  and  urging  that  officer,  if  he  had  a  shadow 
of  respect  for  justice,  or  for  the  station  he  filled,  to  issue  the 


276  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

warrants  for  their  arrest,  and  have  them  served  immediately. 
Then  he  endeavored  for  many  days  to  find  these  men  and 
remonstrate  with  them;  but  they  were  not  yet  ready  for  the 
encounter,  and  kept  out  of  his  way. 

In  the  meantime,  a  letter  came  to  him  from  home,  a  sym 
pathizing  letter,  containing  a  liberal  remittance,  but  begging 
him  to  leave  the  Territory,  where  he  seemed  to  be  in  the 
midst  of  so  much  peril,  and  come  home,  if  only  for  a  short 
time,  until  this  storm  had  blown  over.  His  mother  wrote: 

"  Come  home,  my  dear  boy;  bring  Grace  with  you  and 
come  home.  We  love  her  for  your  sake  as  well  as  her  own, 
and  will  give  you  both  a  warm  welcome.  If  you  do  not  feel 
like  beating  a  retreat  from  the  presence  of  your  enemies,  look 
upon  it  but  as  a  temporary  arrangement, — a  visit,  a  wedding 
tour.  You  cannot  do  much  on  a  farm  in  winter,  and  per 
haps  by  spring  the  Federal  government  will  have  put  forth 
its  strong  arm  to  quell  these  disturbances.  At  any  rate,  if  you 
value  your  mother's  peace  of  mind,  come  home.  Hasten  your 
marriage  day,  and  come  home  immediately.  Let  Grace  ore- 
cure  her  wedding  trousseau  here  and  afterward." 

That  matter  of  trousseau  had  troubled  Grace  very  little. 
The  stores  at  Warsaw  contained  nothing  tempting,  or  at  all 
suitable  for  the  purpose,  so  she  resolved  to  dispense  with  any 
thing  new.  A  blue  silk,  which  had  always  pleased  Arthur, 
had  been  selected  for  her  to  wear  during  the  ceremony,  and 
if  the  proposed  change  in  the  arrangements  was  made,  her 
traveling  dress  of  the  previous  year  would  answer  for  the 
journey.  So  Amy  told  him : 

"  The  trousseau  need  not  stand  in  the  way." 

There  was  really  no  obstacle  in  the  way  of  their  imme 
diate  departure,  but  the  boy's  own  strong  will,  and  his 
patriotism. 

"  I  will  go/'  said  he;  "  Grace's  eyes  tell  me  that  she  will 
enjoy  a  visit  to  her  old  home, — but  we  will  adhere  to  the  time 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  277 

we  have  already  set.  The  people  of  this  district  have  elected 
me  a  member  of  the  convention  for  the  "formation  of  the  Free 
State  Constitution, — the  future  institutions  of  the  home  which 
I  have  chosen  depend  on  the  action  of  that  assembly.  It  is 
my  privilege,  it  is  my  right,  it  is  my  duty  and  my  desire,  to 
have  a  voice  in  determining  what  those  institutions  shall  be. 
When  I  have  done  my  work,  I  can  play  with  a  clear  con 
science,"  and  turning  to  Amy,  "we  will  go  for  a  visit  to  our 
old  home  for  the  holidays,  returning  early  in  the  spring  to 
this  new  home  of  ours." 

And  thus  it  was  all  arranged  as  he  willed. 

The  Constitutional  Convention  met  at  Topeka,  on  the 
23d  of  October,  1855. 

Their  business  progressed  with  expedition,  the  majority 
of  the  members  extending  the  labors  of  the  o!ay  far  into  the 
night,  working  by  day  in  the  hall,  and  by  night  in  the  com 
mittee-room. 

"  It  was  noticeable,"  said  Arthur,  smilingly,  as  he  and 
Langtry,  who  were  both  members,  were  giving  Alden  an 
account  of  the  meeting,  "that  each  man  who  had,  or  could  ob 
tain  a  copy  of  the  statutes  of  his  native  State  brought  it  with 
him  to  the  Convention,  and  when  anything  differing  from 
that  standard  was  offered,  rose  to  explain  that  such  a  feature 
was  not  found  in  the  Constitution  of  4  Indiany'  or  *  Pennsyl- 
vany,'  and  by  dint  of  this  repeated  friction  many  objection 
able  features  were  removed,  and  a  very  fair  Constitution 
produced." 

"  And  when  will  it  be  submitted  to  the  people?  "  asked 
Alden. 

"On  the  1 5th  of  December,  and  I  should  like  to  be  here 
to  cast  my  vote  for  it,"  said  Arthur  earnestly. 

"  Oh,  don't  you  trouble  yourself  about  that,"  was 
Langtr}''s  reply.  "  We  shall  carry  it  by  an  overwhelming 
majority." 


278 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 


«  They  will  have  to  send  a  much  larger  force  than  before, 
if  they  take  possession  of  the  polls  again,"  said  Alden. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

A      DEMAND      FOR      JUSTICE  —  THE      ASSASSINS       AIM— THE 
LONE    TREE    ON    THE    PRAIRIE. 

And  now  Arthur  bent  all  his  energies  toward  prepara 
tions  for  the  wedding  and  his  departure,  endeavoring  to  put 
things  in  the  best  possible  shape  for  his  prospective  long 
absence.  He  procured  a  land-warrant,  and  laid  it  upon  his 
claim,  that  he  might  have  a  .more  direct  title  of  ownership 
than  that  which  a  squatter's  right  could  give.  Then  he 
visited  the  tardy  specimen  who  held  the  seals  of  justice, 
urging  him  again  to  issue  a  writ  of  arrest,  and  failing  in  that, 
finally  secured  an  injunction  forbidding  the  cutting  of  timber 
on  his  premises;  but,  alas!  as  well  give  it  to  the  winds,  as  to 
Zeke  Fagin  for  service. 

With  Hardiker  or  Withers  he  had  not  yet  been  able  to 
obtain  an  interview,  yet  time,  inexorable  and  swift-footed 
time,  moved  forward  with  rapid  strides,  bringing  him  within 
two  days  of  the  wedding  and  departure. 

He  had  obtained  lodgings  in  the  house  of  a  neighbor, 
some  two  miles  distant,  and  went  over  to  breakfast  with  the 
Aldens  on  the  morning  of  the  2ist,  intending  to  go  im 
mediately  afterward  to  Warsaw,  to  make  some  final  and 
necessary  arrangements,  among  others,  to  engage  the  min 
ister  who  was  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony. 

For  some  reason,  unaccountable  even  to  herself,  perhaps 

a  mere  fancy  to  try  her  power,  Grace  set  to  work  to  prevent 

his  going;  detaining  him  by  the  sweet,  pretty  wiles  that  fair 

•   women  best  know  how  to  use.     A  game  of  chess,  a  song,  a 

279 


280  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

new  magazine  story,  something,  every  time  he  proposed 
going,  until  the  morning  waned,  and  the  sun  told  the  hour  of 
noon. 

"  I  must  go,"  said  he  at  dinner. 

"  Arthur,"  said  she  solemnly,  «  never  do  to-day  what  you 
can  put  off  till  to-morrow;"  then,  pleadingly,  "Stay  with  us 
all  the  afternoon,  do ! " 

"  Fie,  Grace!"  said  her  father,  »  let  Arthur  attend  to  his 
business;  you  have  detained  him  long  enough." 

"  Yes,"  said  he  rising,  "  I  must  go  now,  for  to-morrow  I 
will  remain  all  day  with  you,  and  the  next — "John  did  not 
hear  the  rest  of  that  sentence,  for  as  he  spoke  Arthur  opened 
the  door,  and  Langtry  came  bustling  in  with  some  piece  of 
neighborhood  news,  and,  forgetting  the  young  folks  with 
their  joys  and  troubles,  Alden  sat  down  to  chat  with  him  for 
an  hour  or  two,  and  then  set  out  in  haste  to  get  in  his  last 
load  of  corn,  as  the  clouds  were  gathering,  and  the  east  wind 
betokened  coming  rain. 

Arthur  rode  one  horse,  and  led  another;  his  wagon  needed 
repair,  and  he  had  left  it,  some  days  since,  at  the  black 
smith  shop  in  Calhoun,  and  to-day  he  intended  to  call  for 
it  and  harnessing  his  team  thereto,  drive  down  to  Warsaw 
on  his  errands.  Intent  upon  his  purposes,  and  with  sum 
mer  in  his  heart,  he  hurried  along,  not  pausing  to  notice 
the  changes  which  a  few  weeks  had  made  in  everything 
surrounding  the  serpentine  road  through  the  timber  over 
which  his  pathway  had  so  often  led.  The  trees,  shorn  of 
their  foliage,  and  no  longer  joyous  with  the  songs  of  the 
birds  and  the  whirr  of  the  summer  insects,  stood  bare,  and 
gaunt,  and  desolate,  their  branches  outlined  against  a  leaden 
sky,  while  the  winds,  tossing  and  whirling  the  yellow  leaves 
about,  chanted  a  mournful  requiem,  which  fell  unheeded 
on  his  ear.  The  very  road,  usually  so  firm  and  smooth, 
was  sticky  and  uneven,  caused  by  the  alternate  congealing 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN*  2$! 

of  the  earth  during  the  nighttime,  and  its  thawing  out 
under  the  noonday  sun.  But  it  impeded  not  his  progress, 
for,  as  if  divining  his  glad  errand,  the  well-trained  steed 
bore  him  onward  at  a  rapid  pace,  and  anon  the  smithy, 
which,  although  within  the  limits  of  Calhoun,  stood  apart 
from  the  other  buildings,  came  in  view. 

As  he  neared  the  shop  and  dismounted,  he  heard  voices, 
and  as  he  advanced  to  the  open  door  through  which  the 
glowing  flames  of  the  forge  might  be  seen,  three  men  came 
in  sight.  At  last  then,  he  was  able  to  confront  them,  his 
enemies,  Sile  Hardiker,  Carr  Withers,  and  the  little  Irishman 
whom  he  scarce  knew  how  to  class — whether  as  friend  or  foe. 
With  flashing  eyes  and  menacing  gestures,  coming  toward 
him,  Sile  was  the  first  to  speak : 

"  S — s — so  yer  g — g — going  to  take  the  ..lor  on  me,  are 
ye?  y — y'- — ye  d — d  abolition  sneak!  Ye  'aint  got  the  grit 
to  give  me  the  satisfaction  of  a  g — g — gentleman  fer  the 
wrong  ye've  done  me!" 

"  Why,  what  do  you  mean?"  said  Arthur  coolly.  "  What 
wrong  have  I  done  you?  It  is  I  who  should  and  must  receive 
satisfaction  for  your  trespasses.  You  have  taken  my  timber, 
and  destroyed  my  house." 

"  D — d — damn  yer  house!"  stuttered  Sile,  "if  I  hed  my 
r — r — rights  y — y — yer  wouldn't  need  a  house." 

"  You  stole  my  land ! "  barked  Withers  fiercely,  as  the  little 
dog  vociferates  when  under  the  protecting  shelter  of  a  greater. 

"An'  d — d — damn  yer,  ye  stole  my  gal!  What's  a 
h — house  without  the  w — woman  you  love  ?  "  shrieked  Sile, 
advancing  toward  Arthur  with  the  gun  which  he  held  in  his 
hand,  raised  menacingly. 

"  Come  one  at  a  time,  gentlemen,  and  I'm  willing  to 
meet  you,"  said  Arthur,  placing  his  back  against  the  smithy 
wall,  and  deliberately  raising  his  revolver,  which  of  late  he 
always  carried. 


282  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

They  halted,  looked  at  each  other,  and  then  slunk  away, 
Sile  muttering  to  himself  prudently,  "  N — n — no,  I'le  be  dog- 
goned  ef  I  f — f — furnish  food  for  abolition  powder." 

When  the  coast  seemed  to  be  clear,  Arthur  left  his 
position  to  confer  with  the  blacksmith. 

"  The  wagon  was  not  yet  finished,  he  was  at  work  upon 
it,  but  it  would  take  him  two  or  three  hours  at  least." 

"  Then,"  said  Arthur,  "  I  will  leave  one  horse  here,  and  with 
the  other  go  to  Warsaw,  stopping  on  my  return  for  the  wagon." 

«  All  right,"  said  the  smith. 

"  Don't  disappoint  me,  now ;  I  shall  want  it  on  my  re 
turn,"  and  with  these  words  he  mounted  and  set  forth. 

Speed  swiftly,  oh,  young  rider!  for  whom  a  maiden's 
heart  beats  warmly,  for  whom,  far  away,  a  mother  prays,  and 
for  whom  the  murderer  lies  in  wait. 

The  roads  cross  each  other.  To  the  left!  to  the  left,  and 
return  to  her  whose  undefined  premonitions  of  ill  would  have 
detained  thee!  But  no!  to  the  right;  the  task  set  before  him 
must  be  accomplished, — he  was  not  wont  to  let  the  day  pass 
with  the  day's  work  undone.  Even  now  there  is  hope,  should 
the  easiest  path  though  the  longest,  allure  him.  But  no!  direct 
to  his  purpose  and  straight  to  his  mark,  he  speeds  onward 
down  the  hill,  and  past  the  lone  tree  which  rears  itself  like 
some  giant  by  the  roadside.  A  moment  more;  a  flash!  a  fall! 
the  sound  of  a  shot  rings  out  on  the  still  air,  and  a  horse  goes 
riderless  on  the  prairie. 

Three  hours  later,  a  fair  girl  with  brown  eyes  and  pale, 
anxious  face  walked  restlessly  to  and  fro  in  ft  rude  cabin, — 
the  gathering  clouds  in  the  autumn  sky  not  heavier  than  the 
weight  upon  her  heart.  The  daily  routine  of  work,  the 
charm  of  preparation  for  the  coming  event,  suggestions  of 
glad  greetings  with  old-time  friends,  made  by  her  mother 
with  kind  intent, — alike  insufficient  to  arouse  the  slightest 
manifestation  of  interest. 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  283 

Long  before  the  time  at  which  she  might  have  reasonably 
expected  the  return  of  him  for  whom  her  fears  went  out, 
with  pale  face  pressed  to  window-pane,  she  gazed  into  the 
gathering  gloom.  How  slowly  move  the  hours  when 
weighted  by  the  brakes  of  mysterious,  indefinable  dread. 

"  Mamma,"  said  Grace  at  five  o'clock,  resuming  her  rest 
less  walk,  "  it  seems  to  me  an  age  since  Arthur  went  away. 
When  will  he  come?  It  is  growing  dark,  and  those  black 
clouds  surely  indicate  rain." 

"  He  won't  mind  a  little  rain,  Grace.  You  must  not  allow 
your  fears  to  overcome  you,"  said  her  mother. 

Half  an  hour  later,  she  sees  through  the  window,  dimly, 
an  approaching  form, — she  hears  footsteps, — and  with  a  glad 
cry  she  springs  to  the  door. 

What  is  it  that  blanches  the  roses  which  4iad  come  to  her 
cheeks,  and  sends  a  cold  shudder  through  her  frame? 

The  white,  set  face  of  Sile  Hardiker,  with  its  black,  wicked, 
wide  open  eyes  and  large,  beastly  jaws,  confronts  her.  His 
passion  calcined  by  jealousy  to  hate,  hissed  forth  its  venom 
in  the  cruel  words: 

"  Y-y-yer  wait  for  yer  1-lover,  do  yer?  H-h-he  won't 
come  until  ye  s-send  fer  'im.  I've  1-1-laid  'im  out  by  the 
1-lone  tree  on  the  prairie." 

Is  vengeance  sweet  to  the  wicked  ?  Then  surely  the  pierc 
ing  cry  of  agony  which  rang  out  on  the  still  air,  must  have 
sated  his  soul,  as  turning  away,  he  rode  off  in  the  darkness. 

That  shriek  reached  John  Alden  in  the  barnyard,  where 
he  was  unloading  corn,  and  he  hastened  in  to  find  Grace 
unconscious,  and  her  mother  bending  over  her. 

But  for  a  short  time  only  she  succumbed  to  the  blow,  then, 
recovering  herself,  she  repeated  the  words  which  had  stricken 
her,  adding: 

"  We  must  go.      We  must  go  immediately  to  him,  papa." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  John,  "I  will  go;  but  calm  yourself,  my 


284  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

dear.  This  is  probably  but  another  specimen  of  that  bragga 
docio  of  which  we  have  already  had  so  much." 

"  I  will  try  to  hope,"  said  she,  with  forced  calmness,  sum 
moning  all  that  brave  resolution  to  waste  not  strength  in  tears 
which  should  be  spent  in  action.  With  her  own  fair  hands 
she  assisted  her  father  hurriedly  to  dispose  of  the  corn  in  the 
wagon,  that  their  speed  might  not  be  impeded  by  its 
weight. 

"  Put  some  hay  in  the  bed  of  the  wagon,"  said  Amy. 

He  knew  why,  and  acted  upon  the  hint.  Grace  had 
hastily  thrown  her  wraps  about  her,  and  now  cried : 

"Let  me  go  too,  papa !"  with  such  a  pleading  tone  that 
he  could  not  say  her  nay,  although  the  wind  was  chill,  and 
misty  drops  of  rain  were  falling.  The  roads  were  bad,  and 
the  creek  upon  the  rise,  necessitating  the  longer  drive  by  the 
bridge.  But  she  took  her  place  beside  him,  and  they  speeded 
on  the  way  in  silence,  though  dark  and  darker  grew  the  sky, 
and  more  heavily  fell  the  raindrops. 

Over  the  bridge  and  up  the  first  slight  ascent,  and  then 
out  across  the  prairie,  where  their  eyes,  accustomed  to  the 
night,  could  see  dimly  defined  against  the  sky  the  leafless 
branches  of  the  lone  tree,  beyond  which,  after  alighting  and 
casting  the  rays  of  light  from  a  lantern  in  all  directions,  they 
found  him — all  stiff,  and  stark,  and  cold,  his  blue  eyes  staring 
upward,  his  garments  wet  with  the  clew  and  the  rain,  and 
ghastly  with  the  life  blood  which  congealed  as  it  issued  from 
his  wounds. 

John  Alden  stood  transfixed  with  horror,  while  his  daugh 
ter,  tearless,  yet  with  lines  of  agony  indented  deeply  on  her 
white  face,  from  which,  in  that  hour  of  supreme  grief,  the 
girlish  grace  had  fled, — with  loving  hands  tenderly  lifted  the 
dear  head  from  the  cold,  damp  earth,  and  pillowed  it  upon  her 
knees.  She  clasped  the  marble  fingers  within  her  own,  she 
kissed  the  cold  lips  with  a  pressure  that  at  morn  would  have 


SHE   KISSED   THE   COLD   LIPS.' 


286  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

sent  the  blood  bounding  through  his  veins,  yet  now  he  lay 
pale,  calm,  and  motionless. 

A  low  laugh  startled  them.  John  Alden  turned  his  lantern 
so  that  its  rays  fell  in  the  direction  from  which  the  sound 
came,  and  the  light  disclosed  Carr  Withers.  Alden  asked  him 
if  he  knew  aught  of  this  foul  deed,  and  the  wretch  mocked 
him  with  a  chuckling  jeer.  He  asked  him  to  assist  in  lifting 
the  poor  body  into  the  wagon,  and  he  refused,  and  then,  in 
the  presence  of  the  dead,  in  presence  of  the  fair  girl  who 
loved  him,  and  whose  face  was  white  and  still  as  Arthur's 
own,  John  Alden  swore  a  terrible  oath  of  vengeance  on  the 
murderers.  Terrified,  Carr  Withers  moved  away.  Another 
voice  now  came  to  Alden  in  a  whisper: 

"  Whisht,  whisht.  Though  it  cosht  me  neck  an'  the  divil's 
to  pay,  yit  will  I  lind  yez  a  helpin'  hand,"  and  Pat  Malone 
came  forward  out  of  the  darkness  and  assisted  in  depositing 
the  lifeless  form  upon  the  hay  within  the  wagon  where  Grace 
quietly  and  resolutely  took  her  place,  and  resumed  her  burden. 

"  It  is  the  last  I  can  do  for  him,"  said  she,  with  mournful 
voice,  raising  her  sad  eyes  to  her  father's,  and  he  acquiesced. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

BENEATH      THE      SOD ARREST      OF      ALDEN A      MIDNIGHT 

TRAMP. 

Two  days  afterward,  on  the  morning  that  was  to  have 
been  his  wedding  day,  they  laid  him  to  rest  beneath  the  sod  of 
the  prairie,  and  with  aching  hearts  and  flagging  footsteps 
turned  to  take  up  the  daily  round  of  duties  to  which  the 
inspiration  of  that  young  and  ardent  spirit  had  lent  so  much 
of  brightness. 

It  was  a  weary  task;  life's  sky  which  had  beamed  so 
brightly,  was  now  dark,  and  threatening  clouds  hung  low. 
The  atmosphere  was  heavy  with  grief  and  apprehension. 
They  moved  forward  slowly,  and  with  difficulty — the  hours 
seemed  days — and  the  days,  lengthened  with  a  consciousness 
of  misery,  grew  into  years. 

The  murderer  had  gone  back  to  his  lair.  The  power 
which  had  sent  him  forth  to  work  its  purpose  now  received 
and  sheltered  him.  The  hand  of  justice  was  palsied,  and  no 
strong  arm  of  the  law  was  put  forth  to  seize  and  bring  him 
back  for  trial. 

But  through  all  this  gloom,  one  gleam  of  light  remained 
to  the  Aldens.  The  star  of  friendship  shone  with  its 
mild  luster  all  undimmed.  As  in  the  days  of  joy,  so  now 
in  sorrow  the  indomitable  Langtry  and  the  tender  hearted 
Agnes,  were  ever  near  them.  Agnes  it  was,  who,  with 
that  delicacy  of  which  only  such  rare  natures  are  capable, 
proffered  her  sympathy  and  sustained  with  her  strength, 
the  young  heart  bravelv  battling  with  its  first  deep  grief. 

287 


288  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

And  it  was  Edward  Langtry  who  called  together,  at  Alden's 
cabin  on  the  morning  of  the  26th,  the  Walnut  Grove  Associa 
tion,  for  the  purpose  of  embodying  in  suitable  form  a  testi 
monial  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  Arthur  Fairchild,  whose 
services  in  behalf  of  the  colony  were  held  in  deserved  esteem, 
and  whose  character  had  gained  him  the  affection  of  all;  and 
also  for  the  purpose  of  having  a  committee  appointed  to  take 
active  steps  for  bringing  to  justice  his  murderer.  Both 
measures  were  adopted  unanimously,  and  Langtry  himself 
chosen  chairman  of  a  committee  appointed  to  insure  the  prose 
cution  of  the  criminal. 

A  proposition  was  made  by  some  of  the  younger  and 
more  aggressive  members  that  they  go  in  force  and  burn 
down,  during  the  night,  the  white  house  which  reared  its  head 
mockingly  from  that  eminence  in  Calhoun;  but  this  was  voted 
down  by  a  large  majority  as  being  a  retaliatory  measure  par 
taking  too  largely  of  the  spirit  of  violence,  which  had,  hith 
erto,  reigned  exclusively  in  the  bosoms  of  the  opposite  party. 
Surely,  there  was  law  left  for  such  an  extreme  case  as  this, 
and  that  they  would  faithfully  exhaust  all  legal  measures 
before  taking  the  execution  of  justice  into  their  own  hands, 
was  the  determination  of  the  Association  when  at  nightfall, 
with  sad  hearts,  they  adjourned. 

How  desolate  Alden's  cabin  seemed  when  they  were 
gone.  The  clouds  which  had  lifted  from  the  sky  without, 
then  hung  heavy  within  the  household.  No  merry  young 
company  with  song,  and  jest,  and  glee,  made  joyous  the  eve 
ning  hours.  On  the  journey  of  life,  stern  fate  which  urges  us 
inexorably  forward,  had  suddenly  uncovered  in  their  path, 
lately  strewn  with  flowers,  a  dreary  and  seemingly  intermi 
nable  cavern,  chill  with  the  damps  of  death,  and  bristling  with 
pitfalls  into  which  she  precipitately  and  unrelentingly  urged 
their  unwilling  footsteps. 

The   forms   of   supper   were   gone    through,    and    soon 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  289 

after  Grace  retired  to  her  chamber,  and  Amy  soon  followed 
her,  for  since  the  shock  of  that  sad  event  the  poor  child  longed 
for  her  mother's  presence  through  the  long  watches  of  the 
night. 

When  they  were  gone,  John  put  on  a  heavy  back-log  and 
sat  before  the  fire  for  a  long  time,  his  head  and  heart  bowed 
down  with  miserable  thoughts,  too  miserable  even,  for  the 
solace  of  a  pipe. 

At  last  he  retired — to  sleep,  but  not  to  rest,  for  in  dreams 
he  was  traveling  over  an  endless,  dreary,  desert  waste,  deso 
lated  by  fearful  storms. 

A  heavy  knock,  which  chimed  in  with  the  rolling  of 
thunder  and  flashing  of  lightning,  partially  roused  him,  then 
another,  and  before  his  benumbed  senses  were  fully  roused, 
there  was  a  crash,  the  hinges  burst,  the  door  came  in,  and  in 
a  moment  the  room  was  filled  with  heavily-armed,  rotigh- 
visaged  men,  whose  countenances  revealed  the  effects  of  the 
poisonous  stimulant  which  had  been  used  to  nerve  them  for 
the  deed. 

What  deed?  Was  he  to  share  the  fate  of  Arthur?  and  if 
so,  what  would  become  of  his  wife  and  daughter?  The  pos 
sible  horrors  of  shame  and  torture  to  which  they  might  be 
subjected,  flashed  through  his  mind  in  an  instant,  blotting  out 
all  concern  as  to  his  own  fate. 

"  Git  up!"  said  the  voice  of  Zeke  Fagin,  "  I  want  ye." 

"What  for?"  John  gasped. 

"I've  got  a  warrant  for  yer  arrest,  and  no  time  for 
foolin',  so  git  up  an'  git  into  yer  old  duds,"  and  a  pistol  was 
held  menacingly  before  him. 

John  made  an  effort  to  rise,  but  in  the  surprise  and  horror 
which  had  overcome  him,  fell  back  again. 

"  Git  up!"  ejaculated  Zeke,  "or  I'll  blow  yer  brains  out." 

He  made  another  effort,  stimulated  by  the  light  steps 
which  his  quick  ear  had  distinguished  overhead.  "  They 


290  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

must  not  come  down,  they  could  not  help  him,  and  the  sight 
of  them  might  suggest  more  fiendish  deeds  to  these  ruffians," 
he  thought.  Then,  throwing  on  his  clothes  hastily,  he  man 
aged  to  get  near  the  ladder,  and  as  Amy's  face  appeared,  he 
•s  shook  his  head  at  her  authoritatively. 

"What  air  ye  doin'  thar?     Hurry  up,"  grumbled  Zeke. 

"  Looking  for  my  hat,"  replied  John. 

"  Here's  one,  dog-gon  ye !"  said  Zeke,  taking  down  from 
a  peg  an  old  straw  hat  which  had  seen  rough  service,  and 
placing  it  on  John's  head  with  a  jam,  at  which  his  followers 
lustily  cheered. 

"  Now  we're  all  ready;  move  on."  As  John  did  not  obey 
immediately,  at  a  signal  from  Zeke,  two  of  the  men  took  him  up 
forcibly  and  put  him  upon  a  mule  they  had  brought  for  the  pur 
pose.  The  others  then  mounted,  and  the  whole  party  rode  off. 

"  Where  are  you  going  to  take  me?"  Alden  asked. 

"  Ter  Warsaw,"  was  the  reply,  but  the  road  they  followed 
led  not  to  Warsaw,  but  to  Charleston,  and  in  time  they 
reached  that  city  of  dug-outs,  where  preparations  seemed  to 
have  been  made  for  a  revel. 

Tobacco  and  hot  toddy  awaited  the  party  in  several 
of  these  places,  and  they  were  partaken  of  with  the 
usual  accompaniment  of  vain  boastings,  and  ribald  song  and 
story.  In  the  midst  of  this  carousal  Zeke  turned  to  Alden 
with  a  leer: 

"  Hed  a  big  meetin'  up  to  yer  place  to-day  ?" 

"  Yes,"  John  said  unhesitatingly,  for  he  had  recovered 
himself  somewhat.  "  We  held  a  meeting,  and  appointed  a 
committee  to  discover  the  hiding  place  of  Hardiker,  the 
murderer  of  Fairchild." 

"  Hiding  place!  Ha — ha — ha!  That's  a  good  joke!  Do 
ye  hear  that,  boys?  Sile  hain't  no  chicken  to  run  in  to  cover. 
Ha — ha — ha!"  and  he  laughed  uproariously,  while  his  follow 
ers  all  joined  in  the  chorus. 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  291 

"  He's  not  in  Calhoun,"  said  John. 

"  Thar  yer  off.  He's  ter  hum,  with  his  mammy;  yer  can 
bet  yer  eyes  on  that." 

"But  he  has  been  away?"  said  John,  astounded  at  this  in 
formation,  which  he  could  scarcely  believe  to  be  true,  as  the 
committee  had  scrutinized,  as  they  thought,  every  plaqe  in  Cal 
houn,  the  previous  day.  "  When  did  he  get  back?  " 

"Last  night;  I  brung  him  up  from  Levensworth  myself. 
Me  an'  him  went  down  as  delegates  to  the  Lor  an'  Order 
Convention." 

"  If  he  remains  in  Calhoun  he  will  be  brought  to  justice. 
The  friends  of  Fairchild  are  determined  that  his  death  shall 
be  avenged." 

"Nary    time!"    chuckled    Zeke,  villainously,  putting  his 
thumb  to  his  nose.    "  Fact  is,  we've  got  you  fellers  on  a  hook 
an'  you  may  wiggle  an'  squirm,  but  ye  can't  git  off.     Lor  an" 
order!  that's  what's  done  it." 

John  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  give  the  Sheriff  his  opin 
ion  of  the  laws  at  this  juncture,  for  obvious  reasons,  and,  after 
a  few  moments'  silence  and  another  swing  at  the  toddy,  Zeke 
continued : 

"  How  many  wuz  at  your  meetin'  ?  "  , 

"About  a  hundred." 

"A  hundred!  Do  you  hear  that,  boys?  Don't  you  wish 
we  had  got  there  afore  they  broke  up?  That  would  a  bin  fun 
for  ye;  we'd  a  taught  'em  how  to  pass  resolutions!  " 

"  You  bet!"  was  the  unanimous  reply,  accompanied  with 
oaths. 

"  I'm  spilin'  for  a  fight,"  said  one  big,  burly  fellow,  ex 
pectorating  his  tobacco  juice  in  Alden's  direction,  at  which 
they  all  laughed;  then  another  amused  himself  by  treading  on 
John's  toes,  and  a  third  knocked  off  his  hat.  The  victim's 
blood  boiled,  but,  with  pistols  cocked  on  every  side  of  him,  to 
attempt  resistance  was  certain  destruction. 


292  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

At  last,  after  another  potation,  Zeke  again  commanded  the 
party  to  move  on,  and  they  took  up  the  line  of  march;  this 
time,  to  John's  great  relief,  on  the  road  which  led  to  Warsaw. 

The  ride  was  silent — so  far  as  Alden  was  concerned — 
with  the  exception  of  a  question  or  two  put  to  the  most  good- 
natured-looking  of  his  guards  as  to  what  sort  of  a  warrant  the 
Sheriff  held  for  him,  which  was  graciously  answered.  It  was 
a  peace  warrant,  issued  by  a  newly-made  Squire — the  ink  on 
whose  commission  was  not  yet  dry  when  he  signed  a  war 
rant  for  John  Alden's  arrest,  on  the  oath  of  Carr  Withers 
that  he  feared  his  life  was  in  danger  from  said  John,  as  he 
had  threatened  him  on  the  night  of  the  murder. 

Alden  knew  on  the  instant  that  it  was  a  trumped-up 
measure  which  concealed  some  deeper  scheme;  though  what 
that  might  be,  nor  how  much  of  danger  to  himself  it  implied? 
he  could  not  divine;  and  he  was  revolving  it  slowly  in 
his  mind,  when,  as  they  came  in  sight  of  the  well-known 
bridge  over  the  Ariposa,  he  descried  in  the  moonlight  a  com 
pany  of  men  on  foot.  The  Sheriff  had  discovered  them  also, 
and  he  ordered  his  men  to  ride  to  the  left,  hoping  to  put  Bar 
ton's  cabin,  which  stood  there,  between  them  and  the  advan 
cing  body.  But  this  body  discovered  his  purpose,  and  John 
heard,  with  relief,  the  command: 

"  File  to  the  right,"  in  the  clear,  firm  tones  of  Sam  Ward, 
a  friend  from  Warsaw. 

"Halt!"  cried  Ward,  in  a  commanding  tone,  and  the  late 
braggart  horsemen  meekly  obeyed. 

"  What's  up,"  said  Zeke,  "  that  ye  git  in  the  way  of  the 
Sheriff  an'  his  posse?" 

The  answer  came  in  the  form  of  a  question: 

"  Have  you  got  John  Alden  there?  " 

"  Yes;  I  am  here,  and  a  prisoner!  "  John  shouted. 

"  Come  over  to  our  side,  then,"  said  Ward. 

"  I  am  the  Sheriff  of  Hamilton  county,  and  I  hev  a  war- 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  293 

rant  for  this  yer  man.  I  warn  ye  not  ter  interfere  with  an  offi 
cer  dischargin'  of  his  duty,"  said  Zeke,  pompously. 

"  I  do  not  recognize  the  validity  of  any  process  issued  un 
der  the  bogus  laws,"  said  Ward,  fearlessly.  "  Ride  out,  Al- 
den,  and  come  over  to  us." 

"If  ye  do,  we'll  shoot!"  said  Zeke,  and  thirty  men  seized 
their  guns. 

"  Take  good  aim, boys!"  called  out  Ward, and  the  click  of 
the  locks  on  thirty  Sharpe's  rifles  was  heard;  and,  thus  en 
couraged,  John  Alden  rode  out,  and  passed  safely  over  to  the 
side  of  his  friends,  where  Langtry  received  him  with  an  em 
brace,  as  the  boys  fairly  lifted  him  from  the  saddle,  and  thrust 
the  mule  back  to  the  side  where  he  belonged.  The  men  who 
were  "  spilin'  "  for  a  fight,  who  would  have  had  some  fun 
with  a  hundred  Abolitionists,  did  not  fire  a  single  gun  at  thirty ; 
but  their  oaths  were  loud,  and  fierce,  and  long,  led  off  by 
Zeke,  who  first  demanded  that  his  prisoner  should  be  given 
up,  and,  on  receiving  a  refusal,  declared  that  he  would  have 
him  again,  and  that  he  would  arrest  every  one  of  the  rescuers, 
if  it  took  all  the  fighting  men  in  Missouri  to  do  it. 

"  I  will  send  a  messenger  this  yer  night  to  Col.  Delaney, 
an'  one  to  the  Guvnur  of  this  Territory,  an'  in  five  days 
I  will  hev  five  thousand  men  hyer  to  distroy  ye,  root  and 
branch,"  swore  the  Sheriff,  with  fearful  oaths,  and  then  they 
galloped  off  to  Calhoun. 

Day  was  breaking  as  the  rescuers  entered  Warsaw.  Her 
inhabitants  were  roused  from  their  slumbers  by  the  beating  of 
a  drum  through  the  streets,  and,  before  it  was  fairly  light, 
Free  State  Hall  was  crowded  with  earnest  men  and  women, 
eager  to  know  the  cause  of  the  alarm. 

Sam  Ward,  still  with  pistols  in  his  belt,  was  appointed 
chairman  of  the  meeting,  and,  in  a  few  well-chosen  words, 
he  referred  to  the  murder  of  the  past  week,  dwelling  on  the 
atrocity  of  that  deed,  the  promising  character  and  hopeful 


294  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

future  of  the  victim  thus  cut  off  in  his  early  manhood — 
the  cold-blooded  cruelty  which  had  left  him  weltering  in 
his  blood  through  the  long  hours  of  the  afternoon,  and  which 
now  persecuted  the  friend  —the  almost  father — -for  the  crime 
of  caring  for  his  lifeless  remains. 

Ward  declared  this  but  a  foreshadowing  of  what  the  Free 
State  men  might  expect,  did  they  fail  to  avail  themselves  of 
the  first  principle  of  nature — self-protection. 

He  instanced  several  cases  where,  for  slight  offences,  the 
aggressors  being  Free  State  men,  they  had  been  arrested  and 
punished  with  the  extreme  vigor  of  the  law;  while  they,  in 
their  turn,  for  the  destruction  of  property,  and  even  for  mur 
der,  had  no  redress.  He  recounted,  also,  the  threats  of  Zeke 
Fagin,  and  urged  that,  while  they  might  possibly  be  but  a 
specimen  of  that  gentleman's  braggadocio,  yet  he  was  in 
clined  to  think  otherwise,  and  that  he  feared  the  f  erritory 
was  really  in  danger  of  an  armed  invasion. 

Ward  then  called  on  Alden  to  make  a  statement  of  his 
case;  but,  overcome  by  his  feelings,  worn  with  grief  and 
anxiety,  weary  with  his  long  walk,  John  was  able  to  say  but 
a  few  words.  Besides,  his  mind  had  become  so  impressed 
while  Ward  was  speaking,  with  all  the  possible  consequences 
of  an  indorsement  of  his  rescue,  by  the  people  of  Warsaw,  that 
he  shrank  in  dismay  from  the  responsibility  of  bringing  so 
much  misfortune  upon  them,  and  he  said,  in  conclusion: 

"  I  can  not  have  it  so.  Let  me  go  to  my  own  home,  and 
meet  my  fate." 

But  as  he  sat  down,  cries  arose  from  every  side. 

"  No!  no!  Stay,  we  will  protect  you!"  and  so  many  ex 
pressions  of  sympathy  were  showered  upon  him,  that  he 
could  not  restrain  his  tears. 

A  committee  of  ten  persons  was  elected,  to  take  measures 
for  the  defence  of  the  town,  should  an  attack  be  made. 

Dr.  Francis  Rulison  was  elected  commander-in-chief,  and 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  295 

with  the  consent  and  advice  of  the  committee,  authorized 
Col.  James  H.  Hale,  an  active,  intrepid  Indianian,  who  had 
distinguished  himself  in  the  Mexican  War,  to  organize,  and 
take  charge  of  the  field  forces. 

Other  officers  of  experience  were  there  to  assist  in  defence 
if  necessary,  and  it  was  plain,  from  the  manner  in  which  these 
men  set  to  work,  that  the  enemy  would  meet  with  a  warm 
reception. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

LAW    AND    ORDER    CONVENTION — SECRET    PLANS. 

The  Convention  epidemic  was  not  confined  to  the  in 
terior.  There  was  a  gathering  in  Lauderdale,  no  longer  a 
village,  but  assuming  already  city  airs.  A  gathering  of  the 
chivalry  of  the  South,  the  Federal  office-holders,  and  the 
border  men.  Her  streets  were  thronged;  excitement  ran 
high,  and  the  crowd  surged  to  and  fro  as  the  eloquent  words 
of  the  speakers  stirred  up  all  their  prejudices  against  those 
whom  they  styled  the  invaders. 

Harlan,  the  newly-appointed  Governor  of  the  Territory, 
presided.  He  was  a  tall,  dignified  man,  with  an  eagle's  eye 
and  iron-grey  hair.  He  had  an  imposing'  presence,  and  a 
stentorian  voice.  He  opened  the  meeting  with  a  speech,  in 
which  he  declared  to  the  party  there  assembled: 

"  Your  laws  shall  be  enforced.  I  regard  the  Legislative 
body  so  lately  convened  at  Shawnee  Mission  a  legal  assembly, 
and  their  laws  binding  on  every  citizen  of  the  Territory,  and 
it  is  my  purpose,  while  the  gubernatorial  power  is  in  my 
hands,  to  exercise  it  to  carry  these  laws  into  effect.  I  regard 
the  efforts  of  the  Free  State  men  to  form  a  Constitution,  as  a 
revolutionary  movement,  which  should  be  put  down  by  force 
of  arms.  If  the  State  power  is  not  sufficient,  I  shall  invoke 
the  strong  power  of  the  Federal  arm." 

There  was  loud  cheering  at  these  words,  voicing  as  they 
did  the  desire  of  the  assembly,  and  the  Governor  sat  down, 
assured  of  popularity  with  the  "  Law  and  Order  party." 

Hon.  David  Watkins  said: 

296 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  297 

"  We,  the  Union-loving  and  States'  rights  party  have  kept 
still  too  long,  and  allowed  these  Abolitionists  to  proclaim 
millions  of  lies.  This  is  a  great  question  for  Abolitionists  to 
make  capital  out  of,  but  we  must  not  allow  it  to  go  on.  For 
the  safety  of  our  property,  and  the  preservation  of  our  lives 
against  these  «  higher  law  '  invaders,  we  must  enforce  the 
laws." 

Hon.  David  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  boys,  and  the 
hurrahs  were  loud  and  long. 

Gen.  Stringman  said: 

"  I  indorse  the  sentiments  of  the  speaker  who  has  just 
preceded  me,  and  had  I  the  tongue  to  be  heard  to  every  limit 
of  this  Union,  I  would  proclaim  it,  so  that  the  old  men  now 
standing  on  the  brink  of  the  grave,  and  the  young  men  just 
rising  into  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  life,  might  hear 
it.  I  would  rather  my  tongue  should  cleave  to  the  roof  of  my 
mouth,  or  my  right  arm  be  severed  from  my  body,  than 
silently  give  over  my  country  to  ruthless  Abolitionists.  We 
must  enforce  the  laws,  though  we  resort  to  the  use  of  arms. 
Better  by  far,  trust  to  our  rifles,  and  make  blood  run  as 
freely  as  do  the  turbid  waters  of  the  Missouri  that  flow  along 
our  banks,  than  allow  these  laws  to  be  disregarded.  Unless 
we  prepare  to  defend  ourselves,  no  man  is  safe  who  does  not 
indorse  their  sentiments.  They  will  destroy  our  property  and 
our  institutions  must  yield  to  these  meddling  Yankees,  who 
assert  that  a  nigger  is  as  good  as  a  white  man.  Are  you  pre 
pared  to  submit  to  be  ruled  by  niggers?  Do  you  want  to 
marry  niggers?" 

"  No!"  shrieked  the  excited  mob. 

"Then  do  as  I  bid  you:  Out-vote  them.  Out-fight  them, 
if  needs  be.  Force  them  to  carry  their  household  goods  and 
families  to  Nebraska,  where  they  belong.  The  fair  fields  of 
Kansas  are  yours  and  mine,  and  no  Abolitionist  should  be 
allowed  to  occupy  one  foot  of  her  soil." 


298  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

Stringman  sat  down  amid  thunders  of  applause,  and  then 
a  tall,  dark-haired  young  man  arose: 

«  My  friends,"  said  he,  "  I  am  a  Southerner,  a  South 
Carolinian.  I  have  spent  much  time,  and  energy,  as  well  as 
the  greater  portion  of  the  fortune  left  me  by  my  uncle,  in 
planting  the  colony  of  Charleston,  in  this  Territory.  (Cheers.) 
I  am  by  birth  and  education  an  advocate  of  the  institution  of 
slavery,  but  I  am  also  a  believer  in  States'  rights,  and  that 
doctrine,  in  my  opinion,  forbids  the  foisting  of  slavery  upon 
this  Territory  in  violation  of  the  will  of  the  majority." 

"  Hear!  hear!"  shouted  the  crowd. 

"  The  organic  act  provides  for  a  free  expression  of  the 
popular  will  of  the  actual  residents  of  the  Territory." 

There  was  a  hiss,  but  the  speaker  went  on,  unruffled. 

"  I  do  not  consider  the  election  of  March  30  such  an  ex 
pression  of  the  popular  will,  as  the  elections  were  carried  by 
fraud  and  violence." 

"  Traitor !  "  «  Renegade ! "  "  Abolitionist !"  resounded 
amid  groans  and  hisses,  and  cries  of  "  Put  him  out! " 

The  Governor  endeavored  to  call  the  meeting  to  order. 
He  rapped  on  the  table  in  front  of  him.  He  shouted  "  Order!" 
but  the  surging,  seething  crowd  grew  more  and  more  vehe 
ment  in  their  demonstrations  of  disapprobation,  and  in  despair 
he  turned  to  the  young  man. 

"  They  evidently  do  not  wish  to  hear  you,  Mr.  Delaney." 

"  But  I  have  a  right  to  speak,"  said  Roderick,  impatiently. 
"I  am  a  regularly  elected  delegate  to  this  Convention,  and 
I  will  be  heard."  .  . 

"  Speak  the  sentiments  of  your  constituency,  then,"  gruffly 
ejaculated  the  Colonel,  his  father,  with  no  pleased  expression 
on  his  face. 

The  young  man  raised  his  voice  to  its  utmost  compass, 
and  exclaimed : 

"  The  fundamental   principle  of  the   Constitution   of  the 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  299 

United  States  is — "  But  the  excited  crowd  did  not  care  to 
hear  anything  concerning  principles  opposed  to  their  inclina 
tions,  nor  did  the  leaders  attempt  to  protect  the  audacious 
young  speaker  from  the  fury  of  the  crowd,  when  they  finally 
carried  him  off  by  force. 

Poor  Roderick !  his  apprehension  of  the  difficulties  in  store 
for  him  who  would  endeavor  to  promote  peace  by  over 
coming  prejudice  with  reasoning,  had  not  been  unfounded. 

Zeke  Fagin  sat  on  the  platform  at  this  meeting,  and  Sile 
Hardiker  was  also  thus  honored. 

The  latter  had  gone  to  Col.  Delaney  with  his  murder- 
stained  hand.  The  Colonel  breathed  upon  it  the  breath  of 
smiling  condescension,  and  relief  came.  A  pro-slavery  judge 
was  induced  to  admit  Sile  to  bail,  without  examination,  al 
lowing  his  friend,  Zeke  Fagin,  who  was  not  responsible  for  a 
penny,  to  go  on  his  bond.  And  then  and  there  was  concocted 
among  the  pro-slavery  leaders  the  plan  for  Alden's  arrest. 
"  The  very  thing,"  said  Stringman. 

"  Be  sure  to  manage  to  have  him  rescued,"  said  the 
Colonel. 

"  And  let  it  happen  in  that  cursed  town,  Warsaw,"  said 
Watkins.  "  I  am  suffering  for  a  casus  belli  against  the  place." 
"  They  will  be  in  a  mighty  tight  place,"  said  the  Colonel, 
chuckling;  "if  they  give  up  the  prisoner,  they  acknowledge 
the  validity  of  the  Territorial  laws,  and  the  authority  of  the 
officers  appointed  by  the  Legislature,  and  if  they  refuse,  why, 
that  is  resistance  to  the  laws,  rebellion,  and  the  Governor 
may  rightfully  call  out  the  militia  to  suppress  it." 

"  I  may  call,  gentlemen,  but  suppose  the  militia  won't 
come,"  interposed  the  Governor. 

"  Never  you  mind,"  replied  Watkins,  with  a  wink  and  a 
chuckle,  in  which  Stringman  and  Delaney  joined,  and  which 
sent  Zeke  and  Sile  into  a  long  guffaw, "  our  friends  here, 
Fagin  and  Hardiker,  will  take  care  of  that." 


3°°  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

Zeke  Fagin  therefore,  knew  whereof  he  spoke,  when  he 
threatened  to  bring  five  thousand  militia-men  to  retake  his 
prisoner.  Unfortunately  for  this  wily  scheme,  Zeke  had  tar 
ried  too  long  at  his  potations,  and  it  had  now  one  weak 
point.  The  rescue  had  not  taken  place  in  Warsaw. 

On  reaching  Calhoun  after  the  rescue,  the  sheriff  imme 
diately  dispatched  a  message  to  Col.  Delaney,  by  the  hand  of 
his  trusted  coadjutor,  Silas  Hardiker,  the  latter  being  thus 
enabled  to  do  good  service,  and  at  the  same  time  remain  out 
of  the  reach  of  the  committee. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  message,  Delaney  issued  a  circular 
which  was  distributed  in  all  the  border  counties,  and  discussed 
in  the  meetings  of  the  Blue  Lodge. 

This  circular  asserted  that  the  Free  State  men  of  Kansas 
had  not  only  rescued  a  prisoner  from  the  hands  of  the  sheriff, 
but  were  committing  u.ilieard-of  atrocities,  such  as  burning 
houses,  killing  people,  and  driving  pro-slavery  men  away 
from  their  claims,  threatening  to  take  from  the  sheriff  a  pris 
oner  and  hang  him  without  process  of  law,  and  called  upon 
Missourians  to  come,  and  come  immediately  to  the  assistance 
of  their  friends,  who  were  in  imminent  danger. 

To  the  Governor,  the  sheriff  also  dispatched,  soon  after,  a 
message — evidently  drafted  by  some  more  scholarly  mind 
than  "Zeke's" — and  reading  as  follows: 

HAMILTON  Co.,  K.  T.,  Nov.  27,  1855. 
Gov.  HARLAN, 

S*r' — Last  night  I,  with  a  posse  of  ten  men,  by  virtue  of  a  peace  war 
rant,  regularly  issued,  arrested  one  John  Alden,  who,  on  our  return,  was 
rescued  by  a  party  of  forty  armed  men,  who  rushed  on  us  suddenly  from 
behind  a  house  upon  the  roadside,  all  armed  to  the  teeth  with  Sharpe's  rifles. 
You  may  consider  an  open  rebellion  as  having  actually  commenced, 
and  I  call  upon  you  for  three  thousand  men  to  execute  the  laws. 
The  bearer  of  this  letter  will  give  you  more  particulars  as  to  the  cir 
cumstances.  Most  resp't'lly,  ZEKE  FAGIN, 

To  His  Excellency,  Sherif  of  Hamilton  Co. 

WARNER  HARLAN, 

Governor  of  Kansas  Territory, 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  $OI 

Of  course  a  Governor  who  hud  unhesitatingly  asserted 
that  the  laws  must  be  enforced,  could  not  resist  this  appeal, 
and  he  in  turn  sent  forth  dispatches,  dated  from  «  Headquar 
ters,"  in  true  military  style,  and  addressed  to  the  generals  of 
the  militia,  appointed  by  the  Legislature,  commanding  those 
officers  to  assemble  as  large  a  force  as  possible,  and  at  as  early 
a  day  as  practicable,  and  report  to  Zcke  Fagin,  Sheriff  of 
Hamilton  Co.,  to  whom  they  were  directed  to  render  every 
assistance  in  their  power  toward  the  execution  of  the  legal 
processes  in  his  hands,  adding,  "It  is  expected  that  every  good 
citizen  will  aid  and  assist  the  lawful  authorities  in  the  execu 
tion  of  the  laws  of  the  Territory,  and  the  preservation  of  good 
order." 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

FORCED  TO  FLEE — IN  THE  BORDER  RUFFIAN  CAMP. 

To  Amy  and  to  Grace,  left  alone  in  the  cabin  at  midnight, 
it  seemed  as  if  the  seven  vials  of  wrath  had  been  poured  out 
on  their  defenceless  heads.  They  clung  to  each  other  in  an 
agony  of  grief  and  apprehension,  as  the  husband  and  father 
was  borne  away.  What  fate  awaited  him  ?  Their  expe 
rience  warranted  a  fear  for  the  worst. 

Grace  was  the  first  to  awaken  to  the  possibility  that  all 
was  not  lost, — that  there*  might  still  be  hope  if  their  friends 
could  but  be  aroused  to  pursuit,  and  tremblingly  they  set 
forth  in  the  darkness  and  cold,  to  seek  the  cabin  of  Langtry. 
Here  they  remained  with  Agnes,  until  Langtry  returned 
with  the  glad  news  of  the  rescue. 

Satisfied  that  the  loved  one  was  safe  in  Warsaw,  they 
returned  to  their  home,  cheerfully  adding  his  duties  to  their 
own,  and  with  no  thought  of  deserting  their  post.  But  on 
the  morning  of  the  fourth  day  after  the  abduction,  Roderick 
Delaney  came  to  them. 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Alden,"  said  he,  "  you  must  not  remain 
here.  Where  is  your  husband?  " 

"  In  Warsaw,"  Amy  replied. 

„ "  That  is  hardly  a  safe  place  for  him,  and  yet  it  is  better 
than  this.  Here  you  are  in  the  line  of  march  which  the  troops 
from  Missouri  will  take  in  coming  in.  Their  camp  will  prob 
ably  be  on  this  creek,  and  I  urge,  nay,  I  command  you,"  said 
he,  smiling,  "  to  stow  your  valuables  and  necessaries  into  your 

wagon,  and  have  them  taken  to  Warsaw,  whither  I  will  con- 

302 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  303 

vey  you  in  my  carriage,  to  remain  until  Mr.  Alden  has 
decided  upon  some  safer  place  for  you  all." 

This  was  a  warning  not  to  be  disregarded,  and  after 
thanking  Mr.  Delaney  for  his  thoughtfulness,  Mrs.  Alden 
and  Grace  proceeded  vigorously  with  the  packing. 

Mr.    Delaney    drove,    meanwhile,    over    to    Langtry's, 

saying: 

«  I  must  warn  our  Abolition  friend,  as  there  seems  to  be  a 
special  feeling  of  enmity  against  him." 

He  found  Langtry,  however,  immovable. 
"  I  have  broken  no  law,"  said  he.     "  They  have  no  rea 
son  to  molest  me.     I  will  go  to  the  defence  of  Warsaw  if  a 
call  is  made;  otherwise  I  remain  at  my  home,  and  attend  to 
my  business." 

Delaney  did  not  stop  to  parley  with  him,  but  went  back 
to  assist  Mrs.  Alden. 

Langtry,  with  his  usual  kindness,  sent  his  brother  George 
with  a  team  to  assist  them  in  moving,  which  enabled 
Mrs.  Alden  to  convey  at  once  all  that  they  desired,  and  with 
sad  hearts  they  bade  adieu  to  the  home  where  privations  and 
toils,  where  sorrows  and  sacrifices,  had  come  to  them ;  but 
whose  rough  walls  were  still  sacred  with  the  joy  of  a  hal 
lowed  reunion. 

John  Alden  considered  himself  fortunate  in  being  able  to 
secure  a  single  room  for  his  family,  in  the  house  of  a  friend, 
into  which,  with  their  belongings,  they  were  soon  compressed. 
It  required  some  labor  to  accomplish  this,  but  they  bore  it 
good-naturedly. 

«  The  philosophers  say  the  world  might  be  contained  in  a 
tea-cup,  if  force  enough  could  be  applied,"  said  Grace. 

«  But  it  needs  more  skill  than  force  to  plan  the  disposition 
and  adjustment  of  this  heterogeneous  mass  into  conditions 
suggestive  of  comfort,"  rejoined  Roderick;  "and  this  scien 
tific  problem  I  fear  we  shall  have  to  leave  to  you,  ladies,  as 


3°4  TIIE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

the  political  question  we  have  on   hand  compels  our  entire 
attention." 

To  the  committee  of  safety,  then,  at  Delaney's  request, 
Alden,went,  and  having  introduced  Roderick,  left  him  with 
them  for  a  council  of  several  hours,  returning  himself  to  assist 
Amy  and  Grace  to  carry  out  their  plans,  and  their  united 
efforts  soon  gave  the  place  the  appearance  of  a  human  hab 
itation. 

When  Roderick  Delaney  returned,  he  was  in  a  very 
thoughtful  mood,  and  did  not  linger  long. 

"  I  have  found  your  leader,"  said  he, "  a  man  of  great  sa 
gacity  and  good  judgment.  He  sees,  with  me,  that  the  present 
safety  and  future  justification  of  your  town  consists  in  abso 
lutely  refraining  from  every  act  which  can  give  to  the  invaders 
the  slightest  show  of  reason  for  attacking  you.  Under  the 
avowed  purpose  of  assisting  the  sheriff  to  arrest  yourself 
and  those  concerned  in  the  rescue,  their  real  intention  is  to 
demolish  Warsaw,  and  lynch  or  drive  from  the  Territory 
the  Free  State  leaders.  It  is  the  avowed  purpose  which 
makes  it  possible  for  the  Governor  to  throw  over  their  acts 
the  shield  of  the  law,  and  when  your  leaders  shall  have  dis 
claimed  all  responsibility  for  the  acts  of  these  rescuers,  and 
expressed  their  willingness  to  yield  them,  as  well  as  your 
self  for  trial,  they  will  have  deprived  the  ruffians  of  that  au 
thority,  without  which  they  are  a  lawless  mob,  and  must 
either  disband  or  make  a  cold-blooded  raid  upon  the  town, 
for  which  the  whole  country  will  condemn  them." 

"I  see,"  said  Alden,  "  and  I  have  had  some  such  feeling 
from  the  first,  that  it  was  unnecessary  for  the  town  to  assume 
a  responsibility  for  the  action  of  a  few  unauthorized  individu 
als,  when  it  involves  such  grave  results,  even  though  they 
might  approve  and  rejoice  in  the  acts  themselves." 

"  But  that  course  will  drive  you  away  from  us,"  said 
Grace,  bursting  into  tears, 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  305 

"  It  seems  very  hard,  indeed,"  protested  Amy,  "  that  they 
annot  be  allowed  to  defend  innocent  men  from  oppression." 

11  It  does,  indeed,"  said  Mr.  Delaney,  "  and  I  have  no 
doubt  you  think  me  cruel  to  suggest  it,  but  it  is  frequently 
necessary  for  us  to  consult  expediency  rather  than  absolute 
right  in  our  dealings  with  this  very  imperfect  world,  and  in 
this  case  I  am  convinced,  that  if  your  authorities  can  make 
your  people  see  the  wisdom  of  this  measure,  and  have  power 
enough  to  hold  them  strictly  on  the  defensive,  no  matter  how 
great  the  provocation,  the  small  faction  of  ourparty  who  dep 
recate  this  violence  may  be  able  to  delay  them  and  dis 
arrange  their  plans,  until  finally  they  will  be  forced  to  retire, 
without  even  making  an  attack." 

"  Our  people  will  control  themselves,  if  they  can  be  made 
to  see  that  it  is  the  right  thing  to  do,"  said  John,  a  little 
proudly. 

"Yes;  I  know  they  possess  that  power  of  self-control, 
which  has  so  little  place  in  the  uneducated  Southerner's  calen 
dar  of  virtues,  that  he  scarcely  recognizes  its  existence,  and 
mistakes  its  manifestations  for  those  of  fear  or  cowardice," 
and  then  rising,  and  waving  his  hand,  as  John  essayed  to 
reply,  with  just  that  little  assumption  of  superiority  which 
the  latter  could  never  quite  like,  he  continued : 

"  It  is  the  result  of  the  differences  in  our  systems  of  civi 
lization  you  would  say,  no  doubt;  but  we  must  not  linger 
philosophizing — this  is  the  time  for  action." 

And  as  he  would  go,  with  many  warm  thanks  for  his 
kindness,  and  thoughtful  care  for  their  welfare,  they  bade  him 
adieu. 

The  reliable  information  given  by  Roderick,  and  which 
was  confirmed  by  others,  that  intense  excitement  pre 
vailed  along  the  border,  that  inflammatory  handbills  were 
being  circulated  through  Western  Missouri,  and  the  loose 
elements  of  her  population  hastening  to  enroll  themselves  as 
19 


306  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"  Kansas  Militia,"  in  response  to  the  call  made  by  Generals 
Eaton  and  Richards,  and  that  they  were  being  armed  with 
United  States  muskets,  and  that  the  first  division  was  already 
under  way,  caused  redoubled  efforts  in  the  preparations  for 
defence. 

Three  large,  circular  earthworks,  a  hundred  feet  in  diam 
eter,  were  thrown  up,  to  defend  Warsaw  from  attack  on 
the  northwest,  south,  and  southeast,  the  men  working  in  the 
trenches  day  and  night.  In  the  afternoon  of  each  day  there 
was  a  drill  parade,  Brigadier-Gen.  Hale  walking  beside  the 
companies  with  a  military  air  and  gait,  and  giving  his  orders 
with  a  sharp,  shrill  voice.  Then  the  band  played  stirring 
martial  music,  and  many  buildings  were  made  gay  with  flags. 
After  parade  and  drill  were  over,  Gen.  Hale  would  some 
times  make  a  speech,  resolute  and  fiery,  calculated  to  rouse 
the  men  to  the  fighting  point.  Gen.  Rulison,  on  the  other 
hand,  restrained  them,  counseling  them  ever  "  to  suffer  and 
be  strong,  to  carefully  avoid  making  an  attack,  and  when 
they  might  be  sent  with  patrol  or  scouting  party,  not  to  be 
intimidated,  or  aggravated  into  a  skirmish." 

An  appeal  for  help  was  dispatched  to  several  of  the 
surrounding  settlements,  and  in  two  days  there  were  five 
hundred  men,  besides  her  own  inhabitants,  in  Warsaw. 

The  Free  State  Hotel,  still  unfinished,  but  sufficiently 
comfortable,  was  made  the  headquarters.  Two  large, finished 
chambers,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  second  story,  were 
set  aside  for  the  council-room  and  General's  headquarters. 
The  remainder  was  used  by  the  soldiers;  the  large  unfinished 
dining-room  serving  as  a  place  of  reception,  two  sentinels 
guarding  the  outer  door,  giving  the  place  quite  a  martial  air. 
The  soldiers  were  not  confined  to  the  hotel  alone,  but  were 
quartered  in  the  town  wherever  vacant  rooms  could  be 
obtained. 

At  night   the  town  was  closely  guarded   by  pickets,  who 


THE    SQUATTER     SOVEREIGN. 


3°7 


were  placed  about  its  entire  circumference,  and  once  or  twice 
during  its  darkest  hours,  a  horse  patrol  would  make  the  entire 
circuit,  frequently  coming  in  contact  with  the  patrol  of  the 
"  Sheriff's  posse."  Many  fears  were  expressed  that  on  some 
one  of  these  occasions  a  collision  would  ensue,  but  the  Gen 
eral's  commands  were,  in  no  case  to  fire,  except  in  the  last  ex 
tremity.  Not  a  few  oaths  were  sworn  at  these  non-resistant 
orders,  and  the  General  freely  anathematized,  for  the  enemy 
soon  began  to  send  out  small  bodies  of  well-mounted  men, 
who  would  gallop  up  rapidly  to  within  one  or  two  hundred 
yards  of  the  Warsaw  sentries,  and  fire  at  them. 

Fortunately,  a  bullet  aimed  in  the  dark  is  not  a  reliable 
missile,  and  no  serious  damage  was  done;  still,  it  was  a  trying 
thing,  the  men  said,  to  stand  guard,  and  even  hear  random 
shots  fired,  without  having  the  satisfaction  of  returning  them, 
especially  when  to  the  shots  were  added  taunts  of  cowardice. 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

LANGTRY  SHAKES  THE  DUST  OF  WARSAW  FROM  HIS  FEET 

AN  EXCURSION  TO  THE  CAMP  OF  THE  INVADERS. 

Langtry  had  come  into  Warsaw  with  the  Walnut  Grove 
company,  leaving  Agnes  with  the  family  of  Harley,  whose 
claim  was  a  long  distance  from  the  place  where  the  Missou- 
rians  had  encamped.  John  Alden  was  exceedingly  glad  to 
see  his  friend  once  more  before  his  own  departure,  which 
must  now  soon  take  place,  as  himself  and  the  Warsaw  men, 
who  had  been  engaged  in  the  rescue,  had  been  requested  to 
absent  themselves,  until  after  the  expected  demand  for  them 
had  been  made.  Sam  Ward  had  at  first  refused  to  go,  but 
on  Alden's  suggesting  an  excursion  to  the  camp  of  the 
enemy,  he  had  consented,  the  idea  striking  him  as  one  likely 
to  be  productive  of  some  amusement,  at  least. 

After  exchanging  greetings  with  Langtry,  Alden  com 
municated  to  him  this  order,  and  no  words  can  express  the 
scorn  with  which  he  listened  to  it. 

"Poltroons!"  he  cried;  "  no  wonder  they  taunt  us  with 
cowardice.  We  have  allowed  them  to  violate  the  sanctity  of 
our  ballot  boxes,  to  impose  upon  us  a  most  tyrannical  code  of 
laws,  to  imprison  and  punish  our  men  for  most  trifling 
offenses,  while  the  incendiary  and  murderer,  if  but  a  pro-slav 
ery  minion,  stalks  abroad,  vaunting  his  crimes  in  the  broad 
light  of  day." 

In  vain  John  suggested  that  something  must  be  yielded  to 
expediency. 

"  Expediency!"  cried  he,  in   whose  pure   mind  all  actions 

308 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  309 

crystallized  as  right  or  wrong,  and  marshaled  themselves 
accordingly.  "Expediency!  I  detest  the  word!  No  great 
cause  was  ever  gained  by  such  humiliating  concessions  as  we 
are  required  to  make.  Here  we  have  been  asserting,  over  and 
over  again,  that  we  would  not  submit  to  the  execution  of 

&  * 

those  laws;  and,  on  the  very  first  case  of  resistance,  when, 
too,  the  right  is  all  on  our  side,  we  allow  them  to  browbeat 
us  into  a  subterfuge." 

Alden  quoted  to  him  the  words  of  Macaulay :  "A  public 
man  is  often  under  the  necessity  of  consenting  to  measures  he 
dislikes,  to  save  others  he  thinks  more  important";  but  he 
would  not  hear,  and  hastened  off  to  make  known  his  indig 
nation  at  headquarters,  and  endeavor  to  induce  a  change  of 
policy.  The  majority  of  the  Free  State  people  agreed  with 
him  in  feelings;  but,  as  they  had  consented  to  be  governed  by 
the  judgment  of  the  committee,  it  was  hardly  possible  at  this 
late  day  to  change  their  course  of  action. 

John  Alden  remained  standing  where  his  friend  left  him, 
for  a  few  moments,  lost  in  thought;  but  a  hearty  slap  on  the 
back  aroused  him,  and  he  turned  to  meet  the  gaze  of  a 
ruffianly-looking  fellow  wearing  the  regulation  stoga  boots, 
with  pants  stuffed  in,  and  a  bowie  knife  peering  from  each, 
an  overcoat  made  of  a  red  blanket,  and  a  slouch  hat,  from 
beneath  which  hung  long  black  hair.  He  had  a  black  patch 
over  one  eye,  which  did  not  add  to  his  beauty,  and  spoke 
in  a  coarse,  gruff  tone  of  voice: 

"Come  along  o'  me,  ole  feller;  I've  got  a  call  for  yer." 

«  You  have!     From  the  Sheriff?  " 

"You  bet!     Git  ready,  an'  come  along  now;  no   foolin'." 

"Well,  if  I  must,  I  must,"  said  John;  "but  I  should  like 
to  see  your  warrant  first." 

"And  so  should  I,"  said  the  well-known  voice  of  Ward;  a 
hearty  ha-ha-ha!  convulsing  his  form,  which  was  concealed 
beneath  that  border  ruffian  outfit. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

"I  guess  I'll  do,  when  you  fail  to  recognize  me;  but  come, 
now,  let's  make  you  up  in  something  the  same  style! " 

Ward  knew  pretty  much  everybody,  and  by  dint  of  in 
quiry,  and  inducing  a  search  in  chests  and  closets,  succeeded 
in  completing  John's  disguise.  He  wore  a  wig  of  long  white 
hair  underneath  his  slouch  hat,  a  blue  blanket  over  his  old 
flannel  shirt,  and  buckskin  pants  of  California  memory,  with 
a  pair  of  stoga  boots  containing  the  requisite  number  of  bowie 
knives.  Lastly,  Ward  brought  two  old  revolutionarv  fire 
locks,  which  completed  the  costume. 

"  Sharpe's  rifles,"  said  he,  «  would  betray  us  immediately, 
but  we  can  depend  on  our  pistols  for  use,  and  these  and  the 
bowies  will  serve  us  for  ornament." 

In  -spite  of  their  fears  for  John's  safety,  Amy  could  not  re- 
sist  a  smile,  and  Grace  actually  laughed  once  more  when  they 
saw  the  two  thus  accoutred,  and,  with  two  days'  rations  in 
their  knapsacks,  mounting  to  depart. 

«  Now,  do  take  good  care  of  yourself,"  pleaded  Amy,  as 
John  kissed  her  good-bye. 

"  I  assure  you,  Madam,"  said  Ward,  "that  the  camp  on 
the  Areposa  is  the  very  safest  place  in  all  this  Territory." 

<(  Not  for  you,  I  fear,  though  you  do  look  as  if  you  were 
c  to  the  manner  born.'  " 

"We  shall  come  back  all  right!"  said  John,  "never 
fear." 

"  Yes,  and  heap  coals  of  fire  on  the  heads  of  the  Com 
mittee  of  Safety  by  furnishing  much  valuable  information," 
added  Ward,  who  had  not  yet  arrived  at  a  becoming  appre 
ciation  of  the  policy  which  made  him  a  wanderer. 

Knowing  the  country  well,  they  struck  off  to  the  south, 
and  crossing  the  little  creek,  after  making  their  way  through 
a  thicket  of  underbrush,  with  a  wide  detour,  came  up  to  the 
camp  as  if  from  below. 

They  found  the  country  full   of  travelers,  men  on  horse- 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  311 

back,  and  men  in  wagons  and  carriages.,  all  with  faces  turned 
to  the  west.  The  camp  was  near  the  ford,  and  on  both  sides 
of  the  creek;  though  by  far  the  greater  number  were  en 
camped  beyond,  on  the  low  plain  below  Calhoun.  They  were 
halted  by  the  guard  as  they  appeared,  and  asked  for  the 
countersign,  but  Ward  was  equal  to  the  emergency;  putting 
his  thumb  to  his  nose  and  wriggling  his  fingers,  he  said, 
scornfully : 

"Thar,  dog-gon  ye,  that's  all  the  sign  as  I  knows  on!" 
and  then  squaring  himself  up,  as  if  to  be  ready  for  the  onset: 
"  Ifyer  want  any  more  signs,  jist  pitch  in;  I've  come  up  fer 
a  fight,  an'  I  dunno's  I  keer  how  soon  I  begin! " 

But  this  was  enough  for  the  sentry. 

"  Pass  on! "  he  said,  and  they  did  so.  Crossing  the  creek, 
they  found  the  camp  beyond,  a  busy  scene.  Wagons  and  car 
nages  were  scattered  in  all  directions,  and  hpjrses  and  oxen 
were  feeding  on  hay  which  had  been  appropriated  from  sur 
rounding  claims.  There  were  several  dirty-looking  tents, 
over  which  were  flying  banners  with  different  devices;  but 
the  large  white  flag  with  the  lone  red  star,  the  symbol  of  the 
great  secret  "  Blue  Lodge,"  floated  over  the  large  tent  which 
stood  in  the  center  of  the  camp.  There  were,  perhaps,  fifteen 
hundred  assembled;  and  the  smoke  of 'many  camp-fires,  by 
which  detailed  cooks  were  preparing  dinner,  curled  upward 
through  the  timber. 

The  weather  was  mild  again,  and  the  breezes,  which  blew 
from  the  south,  were  as  gentle  as  those  of  a  summer's  day. 
Little  groups  were  seated  here  and  there,  discussing  the  situa 
tion,  and  the  adventurers  moved  around  among  them,  care 
fully  avoiding  the  vicinity  of  Sile  Hardiker,  who  was  engaged, 
with  several  others,  in  a  game  of  cards. 

"  Hillo  thar!"  shouted  one  observing  fellow;  "  whar  did 
ye  git  that  thar  old  firelock  ?  " 

John  hesitated  a  moment,  but  Ward  whispered : 


312  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

•'Act  well  your  part — there  all  our  safety  lies,"  so  he 
turned  upon  them,  with  an  air  of  pride: 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  he,  « this  hyer  old  firelock  wor  carried 

by  my  father  through  the  dark  days   of   the  revolution the 

days  that  tried  men's  souls — as  I  heerd  a  chap  say  down  thar 
in  Arkansaw,  when  he  war  makin'  a  stump  speech;  but  I'll 
be  derned,  gentlemen,  yes!"  bringing  down  the  butt  of  the 
gun  with  emphasis;  " yes,  I'll  be  derned  ef  she  war  ever  carried 
in  a  better  cause  rior  this!" 

This  called  forth  a  general  "  hooray."  «  You're  some 
punkins,"  cried  one;  "  «  A  whole  tater  patch,"  cried  another, 
and  then  there  was  a  general  invitation  to  "  licker." 

The  universal  sentiment  here  was  in  favor  of  an  imme 
diate  attack,  and  there  was  much  chafing  at  the  delay. 

"  Thar  are  only  thirty-five  hundred  Free  State  men  in 
the  Territory,  and  if  we  can't  clean  them  cl'ar  out  now,  we 
never  kin." 

"  Slavery  must  and  shall  go  into  Kansas,  though  we  have 
to  wade  through  blood  to  accomplish  it." 

"  We  kin  chaw  up  a  whole  nation  of  them  white-livered 
Yankees." 

These  were  some  of  the  sentiments  which  fell  upon  the 
ears  of  Alden  and  Ward,  and  proved  almost  too  much  for 
their  discretion. 

"I  dunno,"  said  Ward,  shaking  his  head,  «  ef  a  thousan' 
of 'em  war  to  come  down  here  now,  with  them  infernal  guns 
o'  theirn,  they'd  make  it  mighty  hot,  I  kin  tell  ye." 

"  What  do  you  know  about  them  guns?  "  said   a  middle- 
aged  man,  with  a  forbidding   look,  and   a   face   like   a   bottle 
brush,  so  stiff  and  short  were  his  hair  and  beard. 
"  Oh,  I've  seen  'em,"  said  Ward,  looking  wise. 
"  What  sort  o'  fixin's  air  they  ? " 

"  Terrible  gun.  Say  they  kin  load  'em  ten  times  every 
minute." 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  313 

"  Why,  how'n  thunder  kin  they  do  it  ?  " 

"  It's  done  by  machinery, — a  sort  o'  revolvin'  fixin'." 

"  Wall,  how  fur  kin  they  carry? " 

"  I  dunno.  They  do  tell  amazin'  big  stories,  them  Yanks. 
Can't  say  I  b'lieve  the  half  on  'em.  I  should  think  as  how 
they  mought  kerry  nigh  on  to  a  mile, — that  is,  and  make  a 
sure  shot." 

"  Lookee  here,"  said  one,  drawing  his  companions  on  one 
side.  "  Ef  them  infernal  Yankees  should  take  it  into  their 
heads  to  come  down  here  with  them  blasted  guns,  we'd  be  in 
a  derned  nice  scrape." 

«  Got  to  fight,  that's  all,"  said  the  other,  "  an'  I  don't  see 
what  in  thunder  we're  waitin'  here,  for." 

"  Got  to  wait,"  said  another.  "  I've  just  seen  Fagi.n,  an' 
he's  in  a  d — 1  of  a  temper.  Got  an  order  now,  from  the  Guv- 
nur,  not  to  move  until  he  kin  git  word  from  Washington." 

"  What's  Washington  got  to  do  with  this  fuss,  anyhow?" 
said  Ward. 

"  That's  jist  what  I  say,"  said  the  man  with  the  bottle- 
brush  face.  "  This  air  our  own  private  individooal  fight,  an' 
we  don't  want  no  United  States  troops  snoopin'  round." 

"'Twar  all  along  o'  you  fellows  laggin'  behind,"  said 
another.  «  Seven  hundred  o'  us  war  here  waitin'  a  week  for 
ye,  an'  hearin'  o'  fifteen  hundred  in  Warsaw,  drillin'  and  for- 
tifyin'  and  gittin'  ready  to  pounce  on  us.  In  course  our  Gin- 
eral  he  got  skeert,  an'  asked  the  Govnur  to  call  out  the 
troops." 

"  Fer  my  part,  I  came  hyer  for  a  fight,  and  I  jist  'low  to 
stay  hyer  till  I  get  one,  ef  it's  a  month  o'  Sundays,"  said 
another. 

Which  combative  sentiment  was  not  unanimously  con 
curred  in. 

The  situation  was  just  this.  Gov.  Harlan  had  learned  too 
late  that  it  was  easier  to  raise  a  storm  than  to  control  it  after- 


3*4  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

ward,  and  began  to  be  alarmed  at  the  probable  consequences 
of  his  own  hasty  action;  and,  on  receiving  a  request- from  Gen 
eral  Eaton,  that  he  call  upon  the  military  at  Ft.  Leaven  worth, 
in  order  to  overawe  the  Free  State  people,  and  prevent 
bloodshed,  at  once  addressed  dispatches  to  Col.  Somers,  ask 
ing  him  to  interpose  the  United  States  troops  between  the 
opposing  parties,  and  thus  prevent  a  collision. 

To  all  of  which  the  Colonel  replied  that  he  did  not  feel 
justified  to  act  in  this  matter  until  orders  were  received  from 
the  government,  adding: 

"  I  would  respectfully  suggest  that  you  make  extensively 
known  at  once,  your  application  to  the  government  for  aid 
— and  I  would  countermand  at  once  any  orders  that  may 
have  been  given  as  to  the  movements  of  the  militia,  until  you 
receive  an  answer." 

And  it  was  the  compliance  of  the  governor  with  this 
request  of  Col.  Somers,  which  called  forth  such  an  ebulli 
tion  of  wrath  from  Zeke  and  his  followers,  whose  cry  was 
still  for  war,— "War  to  the  death,"— and  who  threatened  now 
to  raise  the  black  flag,  and  proceed  at  once,  to  the  destruction 
of  Warsaw,  unless  the  governor  should  call  upon  the  Free 
State  men  to  give  up  their  arms. 

The  doughty  sheriff  had  the  impudence  to  address  a  note 
to  the  governor,  stating  that  he  had  writs  for  the  arrest  of 
fourteen  of  the  rescuers,  and  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to 
restrain  his  men  longer  than  until  the  next  morning,  which 
caused  the  governor  to  hasten  down  from  Lecompton,  where 
another  similar  force  was  encamped,  to  hold  a  convention  of 
leaders,  and  suggest  a  compromise. 

Some  words  of  non-approval  from  Washington,  and  the 
reception  of  a  protest  from  the  people  of  Warsaw,  disclaim 
ing  responsibility  for  the  acts  of  the  rescuers  of  Alden,  and 
declaring  themselves  willing  to  assist  in  serving  any  legal 
process,  suggested  the  idea  that  it  was  not  yet  quite  time  for 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

the  precipitation  of  a  conflict,  and  tended  to  bring  the  guber 
natorial  mind  to  the  conclusion  that  a  patched-up  peace  would 
be  the  best  thing  all  around. 

There  was  a  stormy  time  at  that  meeting  of  pro-slavery 
leaders.  The  captains  stood  somewhat  in  fear  of  their  men, 
who  were  drinking  and  carousing  without,  and  clamoring  to 
be  led  on  to  clean  out  the  Abolitionists  without  delay,  and 
hesitated  to  agree  to  anything  which  might  bring  upon  them 
selves  the  fierce  ire  that  a  disappointment  of  the  rank  and  file 
would  arouse. 

At  midnight,  the  meeting  adjourned,  without  coming  to  a 
conclusion,  and  Ward  and  Alden,  crossing  the  creek,  endeav 
ored  to  enter  the  cabin  of  the  latter.  They  found  it  already 
occupied  by  a  dozen  or  more  "  militia,"  who  were  sleeping 
sonorously  upon  the  floor. 

With  a  little  grumbling  at  being  disturbed,  they  made 
room  for  the  new-comers  to  pass,  and  climbing  into  the  loft, 
our  scolits  were  soon  asleep,  not  waking  until  a  late  hour  of 
the  morning,  when,  after  breakfasting  on  the  contents  of 
their  knapsacks,  they  hastened  back  to  camp. 

They  found  it  still  more  the  scene  of  excitement  than  on 
the  day  before.  The  whiskey  still  flowed  freely,  and  threats 
ran  high.  The  Governor,  with  Col.  Delaney,  Gen.  Watkins 
and  Dr.  Cornello,  had  already  departed  for  Warsaw,  and 
speculation  ran  rife  as  to  the  object  of  their  errand,  some 
said  to  compromise,  and  others  declared  they  had  gone  to 
demand  the  surrender  of  the  arms  and  ammunition  of  the 
Free  State  men. 

Lingering  about  until  afternoon,  Alden  and  Ward,  seeing 
a  party  ride  up  from  the  west,  sauntered  slowly  toward  them, 
in  time  to  hear  one  of  them  say : 

"  I  thought  I  had  shot  him,  when  I  saw  the  fur  fly  off  his 
old  coat!" 

And  the  reply: 


S1  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

"  Well,  dang  it,  it's  only  another  Abolitionist  out  of  the 
way!" 

This  party,  beside  a  number  of  lesser  lights,  consisted  of 
Major-General  Richards,  of  the  Kansas  Militia;  Judge  Carr, 
the  same  who  had  admitted  Hardiker  to  bail;  Maj.  Jenkins, 
one  of  the  largest  slaveholders  in  the  Territory,  and  Col. 
Dunn,  a  merchant  of  Westport. 

The  Free  State  men  could  hear  no  names  mentioned,  nor 
yet  the  circumstances,  only  that  somebody  had  been  killed, 
and  that  somebody,  an  abolitionist  of  the  deepest  dye.  At 
last,  when  it  was  nearly  night,  uncertainty  becoming  unsup- 
portable,  Alden  proposed  that  they  should  go  back,  at  least 
far  enough  to  interrogate  the  sentries  about  Warsaw. 

"  Relying  on  the  General's  non-belligerent  orders  for  our 
safety  in  approaching  them,"  said  Ward,  jocosely ;  then,  after 
riding  in  silence  for  some  time:  "  What  an  insatiable  Moloch 
is  this  on  which  so  much  must  be  sacrificed!" 

"  It  is  ever  thus,"  replied  John ;  "  each  forward  step  in  the 
world's  progress  is  over  the  brave  and  loyal  hearts  who  cast 
themselves  upon  the  spears  of  rampant  hosts  of  evil,  that  they 
may  make  a  pathway  for  those  who  follow  after." 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

"  One  more  look  of  that  dead  face,  j 

Of  his  murderer's  ghastly  trace! 
One  more  kiss.     Oh,  widowed  one! 
Lay  your  left  hand  on  his  brow, 
Lift  your  right  hand  up,  and  vow 
.      That  his  work  shall  yet  be  done." 

That  night  John  Alden  sat  by  the  lifeless  remains  of  his 
dear  friend  in  Warsaw,  and  none  said  him  nay.  The  pall,  en 
shrined  by  the  flag,  whose  glories  the  dead  had  rejoiced  in, 
and  whose  one  dark  stain  he  had  so  bitterly  deplored,  was 
stretched  in  the  long  dining-room  of  the  Free  State  Hotel, 
whose  rough,  unfinished  walls,  dimly  lighted  by  the  uncertain 
glimmer  of  tallow  candles,  were  made  sacred  by  that  dead 
presence. 

Never  fell  on  battle-field  a  braver  man,  and  never  went 
martyr  of  old  to  the  stake  with  truer  heart  or  firmer  con 
victions  of  right.  • 

John  stood  there,  while  the  brave  fellows  who  had  come 
to  the  defence  of  Warsaw,  arid  who,  with  himself,  had  seen 
unfolded  day  by  day,  trait  after  trait  of  earnest,  thoughtful, 
and  conscientious  character,  passed  in  to  look  upon  the  still, 
white  face,  which  never  again  would  kindle  with  holy  wrath 
at  the  wrongs  of  a  down-trodden  and  oppressed  race.  Strong 
men  wept  bitter  tears  at  this  untimely  ending  of  an  aspiring 
and  vigorous  life,  whose  philanthropic  aims  proclaimed  with 
eloquent  zeal,  had  surrounded  the  petty  trials  and  privations  of 
pioneer  life  with  the  glamour  of  heroic  sacrifices  in  a  noble 
cause.  And,  as  they  gazed  in  silence  upon  the  calm,  pale, 

317 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

face,  many  a  hand,  brown  with  toil,  was  laid  upon  that  still 
heart,  and  dewy  eyes  were  raised  to  Heaven,  while  firm  lips 
vowed  solemnly  to  take  up  the  work  which  the  dead  had 
been  forced  to  leave  undone — consecrating  themselves  there 
anew  to  the  task  of  making  Kansas  a  free  State,  and  counting 
that  but  as  one  step  forward,  resolved  to  rest  not  until  the 
whole  nation  stood  crowned  with  the  garland  of  universal 
freedom.  And  as  each  vow  was  registered  above,  a  heavenly 
smile  descending  played  about  the  calm,  white  lips,  and  settled 
upon  the  marble  brow,  which  some  fair  hand  had  wreathed 
with  evergreen — fit  emblem  of  a  noble  character,  and  of  the 
enduring  influence  for  good,  which,  emanating  from  it,  sweeps 
on  in  ever-widening  circles,  whose  force  and  potency  no  hu 
man  thonght  can  measure. 

And  as,  with  bowed  head,  John  Alden  sat,  he  heard  re 
counted  o'er  and  o'er  in  muffled  tones  to  groups  of  wide-eyed 
listeners,  as  they  came  and  went,  the  sad,  sad  story, — 

The  characteristic  words  with  which  his  friend  shook  the 
dust  of  Warsaw  from  his  feet  when  urged  to  indorse  the  com 
promise  proposed: 

"  I  will  never,  no  never,  walk  a  crooked  path  to  such  a 
goal."  He  listened  to  the  tale  of  the  homeward  ride — 
brother  and  friend  on  either  side — the  meeting  of  foes  where 
two  roads  crossed,  the  exchange  of  words,  the  insolent  de 
mand,  "  Turn  your  horses'  heads  and  ride  with  us  to  our 
camp;"  the  assumption  of  power,  "  We  have  orders  to  see 
the  laws  obeyed;"  the  indignant  refusal  to  become  prisoners 
without  warrant  or  process  of  law;  the  firm,  honest  eyes  of 
Langtry  fixed  upon  his  accuser,  as  he  asked : 

"What  laws  have  we  disobeyed?" 

The  evasive  reply  as  positions  were  changed,  and  Major 
Jenkins  reined  his  horse  directly  in  front  of  his  victim — the 
firing  of  pistols — the  retreat  of  the  ruffians  to  some  distance 
for  a  parley,  while  the  Free  State  men  rode  forward,  hoping 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  319 

haply  to  escape.  And  now  the  narrator's  voice  grew  husky, 
and  the  listeners'  eyes  filled  with  tears,  as  it  was  told  how  a 
little  further  on,  Edward  Langtry  placed  his  hand  upon  his 
heart,  exclaiming:  "  George,  I'm  faint!  I'm  shot!"  and  the 
brother,  with  tender  care,  placed  his  arm  around  the  stricken 
man  to  support  him  in  the  saddle,  still  galloping  swiftly  on 
ward.  A  few  rods  further  on,  and  the  victim  feebly  gasped : 
"My  blood  be  upon  the  cause  they  represent!  Agnes!  oh, 
Agnes!  "  The  strong  limbs  relaxed — the  head  bent  upon  the 
bosom — the  body  swayed  to  and  fro,  and  both  brothers  came 
to  the  ground  at  once.  Then  friend  and  brother  chafed  his 
hands — they  were  cold.  They  felt  his  heart — it  was  still. 
The  enemy,  taking  fresh  courage,  were  coming  on  in  pursuit. 
To  save  their  own  lives  they  must  mount  and  hasten  forward. 

And  the  narrator's  voice  grew  indignant,  and  the  listen 
ers'  eyes  flashed,  as  t'was  told  how,  with  heartlessness  un 
paralleled,  that  band  of  murderous  kindred  spirits  gazed  upon 
their  work,  and  then  rode  off  to  camp;  and  his  friend,  John 
Alden,  oh,  God!  he  knew  the  sequel.  He  had  listened  to  the 
words :  "  One  more  Abolitionist  out  of  the  way.  T  thought 
I  had  killed  him  when  I  saw  the  fur  fly  off  his  old  coat." 

But  the  tale  went  on  through  the  lonely  vigil  kept  by  the 
brother  at  the  side  of  the  dead  body,  while  the  friend  returned 
with  the  sad  story  to  Warsaw.  The  excitement,  the  indigna 
tion  of  the  soldiers  when  they  heard  it,  was  intense,  and  great 
was  the  eagerness  to  be  detailed  as  guard  for  the  carriage 
which  was  sent  out  to  bring  in  the  remains,  each  comrade 
counting  it  a  service  of  honor  as  well  as  of  love.  Kind  hands 
had  prepared  him  for  burial,  and  covered  the  pall  with  the 
Stars  and  Stripes. 

As  John  Alden  sat  there  through  the  solemn  watches 
of  the  long  night,  when  gradually  all  movement  ceased, 
when  the  whispered  tones  of  his  companions  were  hushed  in 
sleep,  the  silence  broken  only  by  the  voice  of  the  sentry  as 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  321 

he  called  the  hours,  his  thoughts  went  back  through  all  the 
events  of  the  past  sixteen  months,  the  brief  time  during  which 
he  had  been  blest  with  the  friendship  of  this  noble  man,  and 
he  felt  indeed  that  the  hand  of  the  assassin  might  deprive  him 
of  the  inspiration  of  his  friend's  warm  bodily  presence,  but  of 
the  example  of  patience  and  hopefulness  under  petty  trials, 
of  a  constant  subjection  of  actions  and  motives  to  the  scrutiny 
of  conscience,  of  loving,  generous  care  for  others,  he  could 
not  be  deprived. 

Nor  could  the  consequent  elevation  of  character  uncon 
sciously  imbibed  from  intimate  association  with  one  who 
breathed  and  walked  only  in  the  elevated  atmosphere  of 
purity,  and  unselfish  devotion  to  lofty  principles,  be  taken 
from  him. 

"Alas!"  he  cried  out,  "  of  such  stuff  are  the  martyrs 
made  who  lead  the  van  of  all  the  world's  great  reforms." 

Langtry's  last  words,  too,  came  up  before  him  again  and 
again — "  My  blood  be  upon  the  cause  they  represent."  To 
the  cry  of  the  oppressed  was  now  added  the  blood  of  the  in 
nocent. 

"  Ah,  well!  "  John  reasoned,  "  to  parties  and  institutions, 
as  to  individuals,  the  consequences  of  evil  actions  come  back 
to  rest  as  a  blight  upon  their  lives."  ,' 

Morning  at  last  dawned,  and  the  world  of  Warsaw  slowly 
awakened  to  its  duties,  and  its  fears.  The  smoke  of  many 
kitchen  fires  went  curling  upward  on  the  morning  air,  chil 
dren  played  about  in  the  sunshine,  following  the  soldiers  ;is 
they  moved  in  squads  to  relieve  the  guards.  The  sentries 
came  in,  and  friends  again  thronged  the  room  to  complete  ar 
rangements  for  the  funeral  on  the  morrow. 

Then  came  the  carriage,  which  had  been  dispatched  at 
daylight  for  the  loving  wife,  who  had  awaited  a  husband's 
return  to  the  distant  home  on  the  prairie.  The  fears  which 
had  long  haunted  her  were  now  too  terribly  realized. 

20 


322  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

Leaning  upon  Mrs.  Alden's  arm,  she  slowly  ascended  the 
stairs,  entered  the  room,  and  with  one  wild  shriek  cast  herself 
upon  the  body  of  her  beloved,  her  blanched  face  rivaling  the 
whiteness  of  his  own  placid  brow. 

There  were  no  tears  to  relieve  the  agony  of  that  hour; 
the  lightning  stroke,  which  fells  the  strong  oak,  withers  the 
tendrils  of  the  vine  which  clings  lovingly  to  its  branches; 
the  sad,  sick  silence  of  despair,  which  uttereth  no  sound — 
was  upon  her,  and  sympathizing  friends  strove  in  vain  to 
break  the  spell. 

She  took  her  place  by  his  side,  and,  together  with  John 
and  Amy  Alden,  watched  through  the  afternoon  and  night, 
jealously  treasuring  up  the  few  remaining  hours  of  his  bodily 
presence;  and  when  all  was  silent,  she  listened  while  John 
told  her  of  his  own  deep  love,  and  reverence  for  her  husband, 
and  unveiled  a  kindred  sense  of  loss,  the  depths  of  whose 
misery  was  exceeded  only  by  her  own.  He  spoke,  too,  of 
the  triple  chastening  which  had  fallen  upon  him  and  his,  in 
the  loss  of  one  whom  he  had  loved  as  a  son,  the  breaking  up 
of  their  household,  to  be  followed  by  the  death  of  the  dearest 
friend  he  had  ever  known. 

And  then,  at  last,  for  another's  woes  the  fountains  of 
Agnes'  grief  were  unsealed,  and  blessed  tears  came  to  the 
relief  of  the  gentle  heart  so  near  to  breaking. 

During  the  day,  a  deputation  from  the  camp  of  the  enemy, 
consisting  of  the  Governor,  Col.  Delaney,  Watkins,  and 
others,  in  passing  upward  to  the  council-room,  looked  in  by 
chance,  and  shuddered  as  their  eyes  fell  upon  the  still  form  of 
the  dead. 

"  Our  losses  of  yesterday,"  said  Gen.  Hale. 

"  I  did  not  think  it  had  come  to  this,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  Governor,  as  they  moved  away. 

And  what  mattered  it  to  the  dead,  that  in  that  room 
above  was  signed  the  compromise  against  which  his  life  had 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  323 

been  given  as  a  protest?  What  mattered  it,  that  the  Gov 
ernor  now  rode  off  to  disperse  the  force  which  his  own  com 
mand  had  called  into  existence,  or  that  the  fierce  spirits  which 
he  had  evoked  now  refused  to  be  exorcised,  that  they 
threatened  and  bullied  him,  until  in  very  fear  he  was  forced 
to  take  refuge  for  the  night,  within  the  town  threatened  with 
destruction,  in  consequence  of  his  own  misguided  actions,  or 
that  he  gave  on  his  return,  to  the  Free  State  leaders,  a  written 
permission  to  defend  the  town  and  himself  from  his  friends 
— the  militia. 

But  neither  the  concession  on  the  part  of  the  people  of 
Warsaw,  that  they  would  assist  in  the  execution  of  any  legal 
warrant  (the  words  "legal  warrant"  being  construed  in 
different  ways  by  the  different  parties),  nor  the  command  of 
the  Governor  issued  to  the  generals  of  militia,  to  disband 
their  forces,  as  he  had  now  no  need  of  them,  would  have 
availed  to  prevent  an  attack,  had  not  the  elements  come  to 
the  aid  of  the  peace  commissioners. 

The  wind,  which  had  blown  gently  from  the  warm  south 
all  day,  at  evening  whirled  about  suddenly,  and  came  down 
with  fury  from  the  north,  wailing  and  howling,  and  pene 
trating  the  crevices  of  the  poorly-built  cabins  of  the  settlers, 
who,  wholly  unprepared  for  such  an  onset,  shivered  about 
their  fires  unable  to  maintain  even  the  minimum  of  comfort. 
It  was  dark  as  Erebus,  and  the  snow  and  sleet  dashed  wildly 
in  the  faces  of  the  guard,  who,  wrapped  in  furs  and  blankets, 
painfully  tramped  their  weary  rounds,  returning  at  short 
intervals  to  the  fires  in  the  forts,  to  maintain  their  vitality. 

And  what  of  the  men  in  the  open  camp  on  the  Areposa? 
Shrinking,  and  shivering,  and  helpless,  as  the  wind  whistled 
through  the  trees,  and  about  their  wagons,  piercing  their 
clothing,  and  bearing  off  from  the  body  every  particle  of 
animal  heat,  they  gathered  about  their  fires,  piling  on  the 
logs  until  the  yellow  flames  darted  and  leaped  among  the 


324  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

branches  of  the  gnarled  oaks,  and  elms,  and  walnuts.  Colder 
and  more  bitter  grew  the  night,  and  as  the  hours  wore  on, 
the  winds  took  on  a  whirling  motion,  sending  flaming  pieces 
of  wood  and  coals  in  every  direction,  endangering  the  wagons 
and  even  the  lives  of  men  and  shivering  horses,  till  at  length 
they  were  obliged  to  extinguish  the  fires,  and  creep  for 
shelter  under  wagon  tops  and  covers,  which  their  relentless 
persecutor  remorselessly  tore  away  and  sent  flying  off  in  the 
distance. 

It  was  a  fearful  night — not  even  incessant  motion  was 
sufficient  to  preserve  the  warmth  of  their  bodies,  nor  continual 
firing  of  guns  to  keep  up  their  courage.  Had  their  councils 
been  undivided — had  the  Governor's  authority  not  been  with 
drawn,  or  had  the  night  been  a  calm  and  pleasant  one,  they 
might  have  made  the  attack;  and,  perhaps,  then  and  there, 
would  have  been  reached  that  decision  which  only  came  after 
two  more  years  of  wasted  time  and  deplorable  destruction  of 
life  and  property. 

But,  as  it  was,  the  morning  found  them  dispirited  and  dis 
heartened.  The  intense  cold  had  congealed  the  feeling  of 
hostility,  and  the  announcement  that  the  supply  of  whiskey 
was  exhausted  caused  a  general  breaking  up  and  a  homeward 
movement,  enlivened  only  by  threats  of  coming  again  with 
the  return  of  spring,  and  fiercely  muttered  imprecations  on 
the  head  of  the  Governor  for  having,  as  they  expressed  it, 
"  gone  back  on  them." 


CHAPTER      XXXIV. 
LANGTRY'S  FUNERAL. 

"Bear  him  comrades,  to  his  grave; 
Never  over  one  more  brave 
Shall  the  prairie  grasses  weep, 
In  the  ages  yet  to  come, 
When  the  millions  in  our  room, 
What  we  sow  in  tears  shall  reap." 

Somewhat  of  the  wind's  fury  had  ceased,  but  the  white 
flakes  of  snow  were  still  falling  when  the  hour  came  for  the 
last  sad  rites  of  the  funeral  service  for  the  martyred  dead. 
Notwithstanding  the  severe  cold  which  still  prevailed,  the 
streets  were  thronged  with  wagons  and  carriages,  and  people 
hurrying  on  foot  to  the  hotel,  which  had  now  become  the 
place  for  holding  all  public  gatherings.  Boards  had  been 
brought  into  the  dining-room  and  arranged  for  seats,  and 
soon  every  place  was  filled ;  while  in  the  hall,  on  the  stairs, 
and  in  the  rooms  beyond,  scarce  standing  room  was  to  be 
found.  There  were  gathered  representatives  from  almost 
every  State  in  the  Union.  There  were  men  and  women 
from  Eastern  homes  of  luxury  and  refinement,  seated  side  by 
side  with  the  sons  and  daughters  of  toil.  There  was  the  infant, 
borne  in  its  mother's  arms,  and  the  gray-haired  grandsire, 
mingled  with  the  far  greater  number  in  the  prime  and  vigor  of 
life;  and  over  all  the  numerous  assembly,  composed  of  such 
varied  and  dissimilar  elements,  was  spread  the  chastening 
influence  of  a  common  sorrow. 

A  deep  silence  pervaded  the  house,  and  many  a  heart 

335 


326  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

whose  tendrils  still  clung  unbroken  to  its  loved  ones,  who  had 
come  unscathed  through  the  past  week  of  perils,  found  relief  in 
a  deep  sob,  half  grief,  half  thanks. 

There  was  a  hushed  sound  as  Agnes  Langtry,  leaning  on 
the  arm  of  her  brother,  and  followed  by  John  Alden,  with 
wife  and  daughter,  still  suffering  from  that  first  sad  blow,  passed 
in,  and  took  the  seats  reserved  for  the  mourners.  John  had 
tried  to  dissuade  Grace  from  going;  but  the  remembrance  of 
the  healing  balm  of  sympathy  poured  upon  her  own  wounds 
by  gentle  Agnes,  constrained  her  to  make  the  effort,  and  they 
sat  with  hands  clasped,  while  the  choir  sang  a  sweet,  sad  hymn. 

And  then  the  white-haired  minister,  who  had  known  and 
loved  the  noble  dead  in  his  far  off,  early  home,  spoke  of  the 
reward  prepared  for  one  taken  in  the  performance  of  duty — 
a  duty  cheerfully  performed  in  obedience  to  conscience  and 
for  the  good  of  his  country — from  whose  service  he  had  been 
taken  to  a  higher  sphere,  and  broader  field  of  action — of  the 
evanescence  of  human  life,  and  of  that  fairer  country  beyond 
the  dark  river  of  death. 

He  discoursed  of  that  infinite,  omniscient  power  which 
treasures  up  every  fragment  of  sacrifice,  of  effort,  of  devotion 
to  a  holy  cause,  until  the  whole  combined,  moves  with  resistless 
power  the  veriest  stronghold  of  wrong. 

"Ah ! "  said  he,  in  conclusion,  "  though  we  commit  his 
body  to  the  dust,  and  his  spirit  returns  to  God  who  gave  it, 
yet  does  he  still  live,  and  move  and  work  among  us.  The 
scintillations  from  the  holy  fire  which  burned  in  his  bosom 
have  passed  into  other  lives,  awakening  and  inspiring  them  to 
nobler  deeds  and  aspirations;"  and  then,  with  a  commenda 
tion  of  the  grief-stricken  widow  to  Him  who  has  promised  to 
be  more  than  husband  or  child,  the  services  were  over,  and 
preparations  were  made  to  bear  the  lamented  dead  to  buriaL 

The  military  companies,  with  arms  reversed,  walked  first — 
the  Generals,  upon  horseback,  leading  the  way. 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  327 

There  was  the  Warsaw  company  and  the  Walnut  Grove 
company,  deputations  from  each  acting  as  pall-bearers;  then 
the  body  of  the  dead  and  the  sad  mourners;  then  all  of  his  im 
mediate  neighbors,  and,  lastly,  the  whole  community.  All 
kinds  of  vehicles,  wagons,  and  carriages  fell  into  the  rear,  and 
in  solemn  procession  wound  their  way— a  long,  sad  line— 
over  the  prairie,  up  'the  lone,  steep  heights  of  Mount  Olym 
pus,  and  still  yet  a  mile  further  on  over  the  elevated  plain, 
then  halted;  the  soldiers  formed  in  two  lines,  with  bared, 
bowed  heads,  and  the  mourners  and  friends  passed  through 
and  stood  around  the  open  grave.  The  coffin  was  gently 
lowered;  the  ominous  sound  of  falling  earth,  mingled  with 
the  bitter  wailing  of  the  desolate,  childless  widow,  rose  above 
the  sad  moaning  of  the  wind,  and  broke  in  upon  the  solemn 
words:  "  Earth  to  earth,  and  dust  to  dust.  I  am  the  Resur 
rection  and  the  Life." 

The  mourners  then  fell  back,  giving  place  to  the  soldiers, 
who,  advancing  by  divisions,  fired  their  rifles  above  the  last 
resting-place  of  their  loved  and  honored  comrade. 

"  Frozen  earth  to  frozen  breast, 
Lay  our  slain  one  down  to  rest. 
Lay  him  down  in  hope  and  faith, 
And  above  the  broken  sod, 
Once  again  to  Freedom's  God 
Pledge  ourselves  for  life  or  death." 

—WW&r. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

GRACE  GOES  TO  OHIO — ELECTION  OF  OFFICERS  UNDER 
TOPEKA  CONSTITUTION THREATS  OF  ANOTHER  IN 
VASION. 

As  the  cortege  drove  homeward  swiftly,  silently,  sadly,  at 
the  foot  of  Mount  Olympus  the  attention  of  the  Aldens  was 
attracted  by  a  horseman  galloping  toward  their  wagon,  and 
gesticulating  frantically,  in  a  manner  which  John  interpreted 
to  mean  "  Stop ! "  or  "  Go  back !  " 

In  obedience,  he  reined  in  his  horses,  and  soon  distinguished 
beneath  the  mufflings  of  a  heavy  woolen  scarf,  fur  cap,  and 
overcoat,  the  good-natured  person  of  the  proprietor  of  the 
Pioneer  House.  As  he  came  within  hearing,  Jake,  who  was 
ill-adapted  to  such  feats  of  rapid  equestrianism,  cried  out, 
breathlessly : 

"  Meesther  Alden!  Meesther  Alden!  You  not  want  to 
speak  mit  der  Sheriff  Fagin,  hey?" 

John  shook  his  head:  "No,  not  I." 

"  Vel  den!  You  petter  not  gone  mit  ter  town  site  along 
side.  He  vash  dere  already,  for  somepotty." 

"Already?"  exclaimed  Grace.  "  I  think  he  might  have 
given  you  one  day." 

"  Shust  vat  I  dinks,  but  he  is  dere,  an'  he  haf  got  two  of 
ze  shentlemens  already,  but  I  tought  I  come  an'  pring  you  my 
pony,  an'  you  make  off  some  blace  vare  he  not  find  you  dish 
time;  I  vill  trive  mit  der  ladies  home.  You  go,  hey?" 

The  snow  was  falling  faster  than  before,  and  the  lowering 
skies  indicated  a  coming  storm. 

328 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  329 

John  Alden  had  not  slept  for  two  nights,  not  indeed  for 
three,  and  he  longed  for  a  comfortable  rest  in  his  own  bed, 
but  there  was  no  help  for  it;  he  must  either  surrender  himself 
to  the  tender  mercies  of  Zeke  and  his  associates,  or  he  must 
accept  Jake's  suggestion  and  his  pony,  to  ride  off,  he  knew 
not  where.  True,  the  cabin  of  any  Free  State  settler  would 
be  open  to  shelter  him,  but  few  had  accommodations  for  more 
than  their  own  families,  and  he  dreaded  to  incommode  them. 
And  then  it  was  exasperating  to  be  driven  forth  thus,  to  be 
hunted  like  a  wild  animal,  and  obliged  to  fly  at  a  moment's 
notice. 

"  If  there  was  the  least  hope  of  justice,  I  should  give  my 
self  up,"  said  John. 

"  But  there  is  not,  you  know  there  is  not,  papa." 

"It  would  be  simply  suicidal,"  exclaimed  Grace  and  Amy 
in  concert. 

"  Well,  I'm  sure  I've  no  great  fancy  for  being  tarred  and 
feathered  and  rode  on  a  rail  for  Zeke's  amusement,  nor  yet 
for  being  set  adrift  on  a  raft  to  float  down  the  Missouri  River, 
which  are  the  least  of  ills  to  be  expected,  should  I  yield 
myself  up  to  them  for  trial." 

"  Trial,  indeed !"  said  Amy.  "  Even  should  a  legal  trial 
be  granted,  it  must  be  but  a  mockery  bf  justice  with  judge 
and  jury  pledged  against  you  in  advance." 

"  No,  better  to  be  an  Ishmaelite,  forever  wandering,  than 
allow  myself  to  be  taken  now,"  replied  John.  So  he  thanked 
Jake  heartily  for  his  kindness,  and  accepted  his  offer. 

"  Where  will  you  go?"  asked  Amy,  as  Jake  and  her 
husband  changed  places. 

"To  the  South;  I  think  the  roads  are  better  in  that 
direction.  The  sheriff  will  probably  be  off  to-morrow,  and 
then  I  can  return,"  said  he,  in  answer  to  two  pairs  of  eyes 
filled  with  tears. 

"  Dot  is  shust  vat  I  dinks,  and  you  yust  coom  up  some- 


33°  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

dimes,  in  der  night  already,  alongside  of  te  room  numper 
six,  you  finds  dat  vindow  open,  an'  a  bed  vat  nopotty  vash 
shleepin'  in." 

"  You  are  very  kind.  I  hardly  think  it  will  be  safe  for  me 
to  return  in  less  than  two  days,"  and  with  a  sad  good-bye, 
John  set  out  to  seek  a  place  of  refuge. 

And  this  was  the  beginning  of  a  series  of  escapes;  he 
could  never  sit  down,  even  to  enjoy  his  dinner,  with  the 
certainty  that  he  should  be  able  to  finish  it;  he  never  went  to 
bed  without  the  dread  feeling  which  was  a  number  of  times 
made  a  reality,  that  ere  morning  he  might  be  obliged  to 
turn  out  in  the  cold  and  the  snow.  Sile  Hardiker  was  still  at 
Calhoun,  and  to  his  unappeasable  vindictiveness,  Alden 
attributed  much  of  the  sheriff's  perseverance  in  his  case,  as  he 
was  certainly  not  what  might  have  been  called  a  political 
offender,  and  yet  his  views  were  sufficiently  pronounced  to 
bring  him  under  the  pro-slavery  ban,  in  case  any  of  the  clique 
desired  to  make  it  unpleasant  for  him. 

Before  Christmas  Mrs.  Alden  received  a  letter  from 
Arthur's  mother,  Mrs.  Fairchild.  It  was  a  heartrending  wail 
of  anguish  for  her  first-born,  the  center  of  many  fond  hopes 
and  bright  anticipations,  and  she  begged  so  hard  that  Grace 
would  come  to  her  for  awhile,  "  for  Arthur's  sak2,"  that  her 
parents  could  not  but  think  well  of  it,  providing  an  escort 
could  be  found  for  her.  Grace  herself  said :  "  If  Agnes 
Langtry  will  stay  with  you  this  winter,  mamma,  in  my  stead, 
I  think  we  may  lighten  the  burden  of  two  sad  hearts,  and  I 
will  go;  but  I  cannot  leave  you  alone,  with  papa  so  often 
away." 

Agnes  was  pleased,  or  rather  she  consented  to  this 
arrangement — nothing  seeming  as  yet  to  raise  her  depressed 
feelings  to  a  state  approaching  pleasure. 

Like  the  plant  which,  deprived  of  the  sunshine,  still 
vegetates,  though  in  a  limp,  colorless  manner,  she  lived  on 
from  day  to  day,  with  tear-dimmed  eyes  and  pale,  sad  face, 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  33! 

the  old  enthusiasm,  the  old  joyous,  impulsive  manner,  all  gone. 
Time  and  work  might  recall  something  of  its  brightness,  and 
the  best  might  be  hoped,  from  constant  and  close  association 
with  such  a  radiating  [center  of  happiness  as  Amy  Alden, 
whose  face  was  ever  turned  to  the  bright  spots  in  the  sky,  and 
who  in  turn  dispensed  contentment  and  peace  to  all  about  her. 

S.  R.  Ward,  Alden  found,  was  going  East  for  the  winter, 
on  business  for  the  Association,  and  his  wife  was  to  accompany 
him  on  a  visit  to  her  friends  in  Ohio,  and  they  very  kindly 
consented  to  take  charge  of  his  daughter,  and  see  her  safely 
to  the  residence  of  the  Fairchilds. 

Rapid  preparations  were  made  for  the  departure,  and  they 
were  soon  on  the  way,  traveling  by  stage  to  St.  Louis,  as  the 
river  was  by  this  time  a  mass  of  floating  ice,  and  navigation 
closed  for  the  winter.  It  was  a  hard,  uncomfortable  journey, 
but  they  made  it  in  safety;  letters  from  Grace  .were  received, 
in  a  few  weeks  announcing  this  fact,  and  also  giving  an  account 
of  her  kind  reception  by  the  parents  of  Arthur.  "They  treat 
me  as  a  daughter,  mamma,"  wrote  she,  "and  I  think  I  can 
be  a  great  comfort  to  them." 

During  this  winter,  whose  heavy  fall  of  snow,  unparalleled 
in  the  memory  of  the  traders  and  Indian  agents  who  had  been 
in  the  Territory  for  years,  direct  hostiliti'es  were  for  the  most 
part  suspended,  thus  giving  the  settlers  a  brief  season  of  rest. 
In  the  meantime,  however,  the  opposing  parties  were  not 
wholly  dormant. 

On  the  part  of  the  Free  State  men,  the  Topeka  Constitu 
tion  was  adopted  by  a  heavy  vote,  elections  being  interfered 
with  only  in  the  border  tier  of  counties,  and  resulting  there 
in  serious  disturbances,  and  the  loss  of  some  lives.  Then 
came  the  election  of  officers  under  this  Constitution,  and  they 
assembled  and  took  the  oath  of  office  in  March,  notwithstand 
ing  the  threats  made  by  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  of 
indictment  for  treason. 


332  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

They  reasoned,  however,  that  their  constitution  was  of  no 
avail  without  this  taking  of  oath  and  assumption  of  office,  that 
they  were  but  following  the  precedent  of  other  States,  and 
furthermore,  that  they  could  see  no  other  way  of  so  effectually 
protesting  against  the  acts  of  the  bogus  Legislature,  as  by 
thus  knocking  at  the  door  of  the  Union  with  a  Free  State 
Constitution. 

Accordingly,  this  Legislature  having  convened,  presented 
a  memorial  to  Congress  asking  admission  to  the  Union  as  a 
sovereign  State,  and  then  adjourned,  to  await  the  action  of 
that  body. 

The  pro-slavery  party  had,  during  the  winter,  made  urgent 
and  stirring  appeals  to  the  South  for  men  and  money,  and 
the  early  spring  brought  them  large  accessions  of  both.  They 
had  also  discussed  and  matured  a  policy  whose  first  move  was 
to  prevent  Northern  immigration  to  the  Territory  by  arrest 
ing  and  turning  back  the  Free  State  immigrants,  frequently 
with  entire  loss  of  baggage  and  freight.  Supplies  of  food 
and  lumber  for  the  interior  were  also  stopped,  and  even  the 
mails  delayed,  and  in  some  instances,  tampered  with.  The 
long,  tedious  route  through  Nebraska  was,  for  some  months, 
the  only  safe  means  of  access  to  Kansas. 

The  continued  and  oft-repeated  threats  of  another  invasion 
were  a  great  clog  upon  the  energies  of  the  settlers,  though  the 
spring  opened  fair.  Who  could  sow  with  diligence  that  an 
enemy  might  reap?  Besides,  the  loss  of  horses  through  the 
severity  of  the  winter  and  the  scarcity  of  hay,  in  consequence 
of  the  burning  of  haystacks,  and  also  the  destruction  of  farm 
ing  implements  by  the  invaders,  were  serious  impediments. 

Well  for  the  Alclen  family  was  it,  that  Amy's  small 
patrimony  was  securely  invested  in  her  own  name,  and  that 
her  modest  income  was  sufficient  for  their  simple  wants, 
for,  save  the  rude  cabin  which  still  stood  upon  that  piece  of 
land  from  which  he  was  at  present  outlawed,  the  results  of 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 


333 


John  Alden's  labors  in  Kansas  might  now  be  set  down  as 
naught;  verily,  it  seemed  as  if  an  evil  star  pursued  him,  and 
had  he  not  been  sustained  by  his  wife's  still  unquenched  hope 
fulness,  he  might  have  yielded  to  despair. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

A    CHAPTER    OF    HISTORY. 

Hostilities  were  begun  early  in  the  spring,  by  the  Presi 
dent's  proclamation,  that  the  whole  force  of  the  United  States 
Army  was  at  the  command  of  the  Governor  of  Kansas,  for 
the  execution  of  the  laws  of  the  Territory.  Then  followed 
the  indictment  of  the  newly-elected  officers,  under  the  Topeka 
Constitution,  by  the  grand  jury,  for  treason  against  the 
United  States,  and  also  the  indictment  of  the  two  Free  State 
newspapers  at  Warsaw,  and  the  .Free  State  hotel,  of  the  same 
place,  as  nuisances  which  must  be  suppressed  or  destroyed. 

The  return  of  Ward,  about  this  time,  was  also  turned  to 
good  account,  Zeke  Fagin  who,  as  before,  still  led  the  van, 
making  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  arrest  him.  Ward  declin 
ing  to  submit,  without  first  seeing  a  warrant,  and  Zeke,  on 
that  occasion,  having  failed  to  furnish  himself  with  that  indis 
pensable  document,  he  refused  absolutely  to  go.  This  occur 
rence  the  sheriff  reported  to  the  governor,  as  an  act  of  direct 
resistance  to  his  authority,  and  the  governor,  in  accordance 
with  instructions  from  Washington,  and  in  the  spirit  of  the 
President's  proclamation,  called  upon  Col.  Somers,  of  the 
regular  army,  for  a  posse  of  soldiers  to  assist  the  sheriff  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duty.  They  were  immediately  furnished, 
and,  with  the  air  of  a  Napoleon  at  the  head  of  the  immortal 
"  Old  Guard,"  Zeke  Fagin  galloped  about  the  country.  What 
would  he  not  do  for  a  cause  which  gave  to  him  such  laurels? 

Unfortunately  for  Alden,  they  entered  Warsaw  from  a 
side  street,  and  came  upon  him  suddenly  from  around  a  cor- 

334 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  335 

ner,  just  as  he  had  descended  the  stone  steps  of  Free  State 
Hotel,  one  morning  in  April,  and  stood  alone  upon  the  side 
walk,  and  with  an  "  Aha!  I've  got  yer  at  last!"  and  a  fierce 
grip,  which  tore  his  coat,  though  he  offered  no  resistance,  the 
sheriff  pounced  upon  him.  A  tent  was  soon  erected  on  a 
vacant  lot,  at  some  distance  up  the  street,  and  John  was 
placed  within,  and  strictly  guarded  by  four  soldiers,  while  the 
remainder  of  the  posse  assisted  the  sheriff  in  making  other 
arrests.  This  proved  an  unusually  successful  sally,  and  five 
companions  were  given  Alden  during  the  afternoon. 

Their  captors  did  not  move,  however.  They  were  wait 
ing  for  the  night  to  cover  up  some  deed  of  violence,  hints  of 
which  the  sheriff  could  not  forbear  to  convey  in  taunts  directed 
to  John  Alden,  intimating  that  he  was  to  be  given  over  to 
somebody  in  Calhoun. 

"  Somebody  who  hez  a  heap  o'  'fection  fer  yerself 
and  fam'ly,"  said  he,  bowing  with  an  air  of  mfock  politeness. 
As  he  did  this,  the  sharp,  explosive  sound  of  a  pistol  rang  cwi 
the  air,  and  Zeke  Fagin  fell  at  John's  feet.  What  unseen  hand 
had  thus  avenged  his  wrongs,  at  the  very  moment  when, 
completely  in  the  power  of  the  tyrant,  he  was  forced  to  listen 
to  his  revilings,  John  knew  not— nor  was  it  ever  known — 
though  the  wicked  eyes  of  Carr  Withers,  which  leered  on 
Fagin  for  an  instant  through  the  opening  in  the  tent,  while 
he  lay  convulsed,  with  the  blood  issuing  from  his  wounds — 
suggested  to  Alden  a  possible  intention  on  the  part  of 
Withers  to  avenge  his  own  private  wrongs, — for  Bets,  his 
wife,  received  and  openly  returned  the  admiration  of  F'agin, — 
and  at  the  same  time  to  cast  a  stigma  upon  the  Free  State 
people,  and  give  the  border  ruffians  cause  for  an  attack. 

At  any  rate,  it  had  the  effect  of  rousing  the  loose  element 
in  Missouri  to  the  fighting  point,  being  heralded  there  as  a 
base  assault  by  the  people  of  Warsaw,  upon  the  sheriff,  while 
in  the  discharge  of  his  duty. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  337 

It  was  made  the  most  of,  for,  before  he  had  been  carried 
to  the  hotel,  examined  by  the  physicians,  and  pronounced 
"  only  slightly  wounded,"  a  messenger  had  set  forth,  bearing 
news  of  his  death,  and  arousing  his  friends  and  neighbors  to 
avenge  his  assassination. 

The  next  day,  Fagin  was  carried  to  his  confreres  at  Cal- 
houn,  and  the  prisoners  whom  he  had  arrested  were  taken  to 
Lecompton,  where  they  were  kept  confined  in  a  log  cabin. 

At  various  times,  large  additions  were  made  to  their  num 
bers,  so  man}',  indeed,  that  the  cabin  became  too  small  to  hold 
them,  and  they  were  placed  in  tents,  which,  with  those  occu 
pied  by  the  soldiers  who  were  stationed  there  as  a  guard 
gave  the  place  quite  the  air  of  a  military  encampment. 

Gov.  Rulison,  who,  while  on  his  way  East,  had  been 
arrested  without  a  warrant,  was,  with  other  officers  under 
the  Topeka  Constitution,  in  a  few  days  brought  here  for  safe 
keeping. 

Their  arrest  was  preceded  with  a  proclamation  by  the 
United  States  Marshal,  stating  that  certain  persons  indicted 
for  treason,  were  supposed  to  be  in  the  town  of  .Warsaw,  and 
that  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  their  arrest  would  be  resisted 
by  armed  men.  He,  therefore,  called  upon  all  good  citizens 
to  assemble  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  him  to  serve  the 
warrants  for  their  arrest,  now  in  his  possession.  Whether  in 
response  to  this  call,  or  owing  to  pre-arrangement,  the  mar 
shal's  posse  grew  with  fearful  rapidity,  and  the  whole  country 
was  soon  a  scene  of  warlike  confusion.  Travelers  on  the 
highway  were  arrested  and  confined  as  prisoners.  Cattle  and 
horses  belonging  to  Free  State  men  were  pressed  into  service, 
even  the  settler's  only  cow,  in  many  cases,  being  driven  to 
their  camps,  and  killed  for  beef. 

An  armed  force  was  rapidly  concentrated  around  Warsaw, 
whose  people,  entirely  unprepared  for  attack,  looked  on  with 
dismay.  Their  leaders  were  absent,  many  of  them  confined 


338  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

as  prisoners  in  the  camp  at  Lecompton,  the  rank  and  file 
were  in  the  field  endeavoring  to  plant  their  crops,  or  hewing 
out  lumber,  or  quarrying  stone  for  their  houses,  and  the 
people  of  Warsaw  hesitated  to  ask  them  to  come  again  to 
their  defence,  without  pay,  when,  perhaps,  a  non-resistant  pol 
icy  would  serve  them,  as  before.  Besides,  there  was  now  a 
glimmer  of  hope  that  justice  would  be  received  from  Con 
gress,  as  a  committee  had,  at  last,  been  sent  to  the  Territory, 
to  take  testimony  concerning  the  election  frauds  of  March 
30,  1855.  But,  as  the  armed  forces  closed  round  the  town  on 
every  side,  more  numerous,  more  rampant,  more  threatening 
than  before,  it  was  determined  to  make  one  more  appeal  to 
the  governor,  asking  him  to  interpose  the  United  States 
troops — which  were,  as  yet,  kept  on  the  border — between  the 
advancing  army  and  the  beleaguered  town. 

The  reply  was: 

"  There  are  no  armed  forces  approaching  Warsaw,  except 
such  as  are  legally  authorized  to  act  as  a  posse  for  the  execu 
tion  of  the  laws,  and  when  your  people  submit  themselves  to 
the  laws,  and  abandon  all  opposition  to  their  execution,  this 
force  will  be  withdrawn." 

The  reply  was  interpreted  to  mean,  that  if  the  officers 
elect  submitted  quietly  to  arrest,  others  should  not  be  molested, 
and  they  resolved  to  do  so,  trusting  to  the  sense  of  right  inhe 
rent  in  the  great  body  of  their  countrymen,  to  see  that  justice 
was  done  them,  when  the  excitement  had  subsided. 

In  the  meantime,  preparations  were  going  forward,  and 
were  vigorously  prosecuted  by  the  enemy,  for  the  sacking  of 
Warsaw. 

They  proclaimed,  '-'•This  time  they  were  to  wipe  out  the 
Abolition  stronghold,  and  no  mistake." 

Of  the  Sheriff,  nothing  had  been  heard.  He  who  was 
wont  to  be  the  life  of  that  chivalric  host,  was  he  indeed  dead, 
or  dying  from  the  wounds  received  in  Warsaw  by  the  hands 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  339 

of  an  assassin?  Opinions  differed — and  the  people  of  War 
saw  persistently  denied  all  knowledge  of,  or  connection  with 
the  deed,  whose  perpetrator  they  had  endeavored  to  search 
out,  but  without  avail. 

The  morning  of  the  2ist  of  May  dawned  clear  and  cloud 
less,  and  the  inhabitants  of  this  little  Western  hamlet,  shaking 
off  the  drowsy  slumbers  of  the  night,  began  to  busy  them 
selves  about  their  usual  avocations.  Suddenly  it  was  dis 
covered  that  a  large  armed  force  had  taken  possession  of 
Mount  Olympus,  and  another  was  encamped  to  the  south 
east  of  the  town. 

A  scouting  party — sent  out  in  haste — brought  back  the  news 
that  they  were  the  Marshal's  posse,  and  composed  of  companies 
from  Carolina,  Alabama,  Georgia,  and  Florida,  combined 
with  the  Missourians,  and  numbering  perhaps  eight  hundred 
or  a  thousand  men;  that  they  were  armed  with  the  United 
States  rifles  belonging  to  the  Territory,  and  which  had  been 
intrusted  to  the  charge  of  the  Federal  officers;  that  they  had 
four  pieces  of  cannon,  and  were  entrenching  themselves  upon 
the  hill,  preparatory  to  making  a  move  upon  the  town. 

This  intelligence  was  in  no  wise  calculated. to  revive  the 
drooping  spirits  of  the  inhabitants;  but,  trusting  in  the  policy 
of  submission,  they  awaited  attack  in  silence. 

About  ten  o'clock  Marshal  Kane  entered  the  town,  accom 
panied  by  a  posse  of  thirty  armed  men. 

He  summoned  several  of  the  citizens  to  assist  him  in  mak 
ing  arrests.  Their  cheerful  compliance,  as  well  as  the  non- 
resistant  air  of  the  inhabitants,  seemed  to  puzzle  him,  and  he 
lingered  about  until  noon,  notwithstanding  the  parties  for 
whom  he  held  warrants  surrendered  themselves  immediately 
on  his  demand.  Constituting  himself  and  his  posse  the  guests 
of  the  city,  he  ordered  dinner  at  the  Free  State  Hotel,  which 
was  promptly  furnished  him,  after  which  he  quietly  retired 
wTith  his  posse  and  prisoners. 


340  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

And  now  another  actor  came  upon  the  scene — Sheriff 
Zeke  Fagin  issued  forth  from  his  retirement,  and  was  received 
with  loud  cheers  of  joy  by  his  confederates,  many  of  whom 
had  mourned  him  as  dead. 

As  he  rode  up  in  front  of  the  men,  he  exclaimed : 

"  Boys!  this  yer's  the  happiest  day  'n  my  life!  We've  got 
orders  fer  to  destroy  the  printin'  offices  and  the  tavern  belong- 
in'  ter  that  ar  cl — d  Yankee  Emigrant  Aidin'  Soci'ty;  and  by 
G — d,  we'll  hev  some  fun,  ef  we  can't  git  a  fight  out 
o'  these  hyer  sneakin,'  white-livered  fellers!  Plant  yer  can 
non,  boys!  an'  then  hist  up  the  flag  o'  the  South!"  and  with 
these  words  he  led  the  way  into  the  town.  While  his  men 
were  executing  these  commands,  Zeke  endeavored  to  serve  his 
writs.  Name  after  name  was  called,  but  no  one  answered — 
they  were  not  to  be  found — and  the  Sheriff's  wrath  rose 
accordingly. 

Then  he  issued  an  order  that  the  women  and  children 
should  leave  the  town.  Some  of  them  had  fled  in  the  morn 
ing — and  the  men  of  a  belligerent  turn  of  mind  had  likewise 
absented  themselves  when  the  submission  policy  was  agreed 
upon.  But  the  remainder — now  gathering  up  their  little  ones 
and  what  few  things  they  could  carry — hastened  out  on  the 
prairie. 

Agnes  and  Amy  assisted  a  friend,  with  three  little  chil 
dren,  to  escape  to  a  cabin  near  the  timber,  and  then  returned, 
with  others,  to  take  up  a  station,  where  they  had  a  partial 
view  of  the  enemy's  movements. 

A  motley-looking  crew  they  were  in  their  red  shirts* 
which  had  the  effect  of  a  scarlet  uniform. 

At  the  command  of  their  leader  to  "  Pitch  in,"  they  rushed 
with  a  yell  into  the  printing  offices,  demolishing  the  presses, 
type,  furniture,  everything  belonging  to  a  newspaper  outfit; 
bearing  the  larger  fragments  to  the  river,  and  throwing  the 
smaller  pieces  about  the  street. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  34 1 

Then  they  began  to  discharge  their  cannon,  two  pieces  of 
which  had  been  placed  directly  in  front  of  the  hotel,  but  the 
stout  walls  resisted  the  attack,  and  round  after  round  was 
fired  without  making  the  least  impression.  At  last  they 
brought  several  kegs  of  powder,  and,  placing  them  within  the 
building,  applied  the  match,  but  there  was  only  a  slight  ex 
plosion,  sufficient,  however,  to  set  fire  to  the  building;  and  as 
the  flames  arose,  hissing  and  crackling,  the  Sheriff  was  unable 
to  conceal  his  delight. 

"  Boys!"  he  exclaimed  again,  "this  yer's  the  happiest  day 
'n  my  life,"  and  his  fierce  black  eyes  sparkled  with  joy. 

Then  commenced  a  scene  of  wildest  pillage.  Bolts  and 
bars  were  no  obstruction  to  their  entrance;  trunks  were  broken 
open,  and  all  money  and  jewelry  taken;  pictures  and  books 
destroyed — even  the  daguerreotypes  of  cherished  friends  were 
ruthlessly  marred  and  thrown  into  the  streets.  Scarfs  and  dress 
ing-gowns  were  donned,  and  the  marauders  paraded  the  town 
in  fantastic  garbs  selected  from  the  wardrobes  of  their  victims. 

Everything  that  could  be  carried  away  was  taken,  and 
many  things  destroyed  which  were  of  value  only  to  their  own 
ers.  The  wines  and  liquors  in  the  cellars  *>f  the  Free  State 
Hotel  were  freely  passed  about,  and  served  not  a  little  to  in 
flame  the  passions  of  the  marauders.  t\ 

At  last,  near  midnight,  with  a  crowning  act  of  malicious 
ness,  they  retired,  the  flames  bursting  forth  from  the  dwelling 
of  Gen.  Rulison  lighting  up  their  retreat. 

They  carried  with  them  their  dead  and  wounded — two  in 
number — one  injured  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  pistol  in 
the  hands  of  a  comrade,  and  the  other  instantly  killed — struck 
on  the  head  by  a  stone  swept  from  the  walls  of  the  highest 
printing  office  by  the  South  Carolina  flag,  as  its  heavy  folds 
swung  to  the  breeze.  And  it  was  whispered  as  he  was  borne 
away  that  Arthur  Fairchild  was  avenged — that  it  was  Silas 
Hardiker  who  was  carried  lifeless  to  his  home  in  Calhoun. 


342  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

And  now  occurred  a  revulsion  of  feeling.  Forbearance 
had  ceased  to  be  a  virtue.  What  was  Federal  authority  to 
men  whom  Federal  power  was  used  to  pillage  and  destroy? 
"We  will  endure  it  no  longer!  "  were  the  words  heard  from 
every  side;  and  gallant  Old  John  Brown,  in  the  south,  and 
Gen.  Hale,  in  Central  and  Northern  Kansas,  took  the  field, 
and  attack  and  repulse,  advance  and  retreat,  successively 
ensued ;  until  the  Governor  was  constrained  by  the  success  of 
the  Free  State  men  to  conclude  a  second  treaty  of  peace, 
which  was  no  sooner  made  than  broken,  and  the  Territory 
was  again  the  scene  of  anarchy  and  confusion. 

The  little  village  of  Osawatomie  was  twice  sacked  and 
burned.  Lauderdale  became  the  scene  of  daily  outrage;  her 
Free  State  inhabitants — many  of  them  merchants  of  the  place, 
having  valuable  stocks  of  goods,  and  possessed  of  property 
besides — were  actually  driven  out  of  the  place,  a  hundred  at  a 
time,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet;  some  escaping  by  the  boats, 
others  seeking  refuge  in  the  woods,  and,  ultimately,  ai  Fort 
Leaven  worth. 

Their  property  fell  for  the  most  part  into  the  hands  of  the 
"law  arid  order"  administrators.  But  the  end  was  drawing 
near.  Gen.  Hale's  army  received  large  accessions  through 
Nebraska,  and  became  stronger  and  better  armed  every  day. 
They  made  incredible  marches,  and  gained  surprising  victories, 
and  at  last,  in  September,  turned  their  attention  toward  liber 
ating  the  prisoners  who  were  confined  at  Lecompton. 

It  can  hardly  be  imagined  with  what  feelings  of  joy  the 
prisoners  hailed  the  rumors  of  his  approach.  The  summer  had 
been  one  long  season  of  suffering  to  them,  confined  in  small  space 
surrounded  with  filth,  and  guarded  by  drunken  demons,  who 
frequently  amused  themselves  by  cursing  and  throwing  stones 
at  them.  With  two  large  cannon  loaded  with  shot  and  slugs, 
planted  but  a  few  yards  away,  and  the  match  in  the  hands  of 
the  gunner,  with  orders  to  discharge  both  in  case  friends 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  343 

should  come  to  their  rescue,  they  needed  but  starvation  to 
complete  a  list  of  horrors  equal  to  any  known  in  history. 
But  from  this  they  were  happily  saved  by  the  one  indulgence 
granted — that  their  friends  might  provide  food  for  them;  and 
Mrs.  Rulison,  Mrs.  Alden,  and  other  ladies  were  untiring  in 
efforts  in  their  behalf. 

At  last,  however,  when  Gov.  Harlan  had  been  replaced 
by  Gov.  Gage,  who  was  inclined  to  administer  justice  with 
out  fear  or  favor,  and  who  won  his  subsequent  removal  by 
his  endeavors  in  that  direction;  and  when  Gen.  Hale,  with  a 
large  force,  was  within  a  few  hours'  march  of  the  camp,  Goy. 
Gage  admitted  the  prisoners  to  bail,  and  they  were  dispatched 
to  Warsaw  by  another  route,  so  that  the  General,  on  de 
manding  their  release,  could  be  informed  that  they  were 
already  at  liberty,  and  had  departed. 

Then  this  new  Governor  turned  his  attention  to  the  dis 
persion  of  the  militia,  who  were  again  encamped  on  the 
Areposa,  and  threatening  that  of  Warsaw  there  should  not 
be  left  one  vestige  nor  one  soul  to  tell  the  tale. 

It  required  great  firmness  and  decision  on  his  part  to  com 
pel  them  to  disperse.  Disband  they  did  not  immediately,  but 
scattered  far  and  wide  in  little  bands,  devastating  the  Terri 
tory,  and  defying  the  power  of  the  United  States  troops.  But 
at  length,  meeting  with  retaliation  from  armed  bands  of  Free 
State  men,  now  roused  to  fury,  and  being  routed,  they  were 
forced  to  retire,  never  again  to  come  in  a  large,  well-organ 
ized  body;  though  frequent  skirmishes  continued  at  intervals 
on  the  southern  borders,  for  at  least  two  years  more. 

During  the  winter  following,  the  report  of  the  committee 
for  the  investigation  of  election  frauds  was  received  by  Con 
gress,  and  the  Committee  on  Territories  advised  a  repudiation 
of  the  acts  of  the  Kansas  Legislature  as  a  spurious  body,  and 
the  repeal  of  the  whole  Kansas  code  that  had  sanctioned  the 
bloodshed  and  crime  inflicted  on  the  Territory. 


344  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

This  measure,  though  not  adopted,  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  people  of  the  Northern  States  to  the  condition  of  the 
Territory,  and  the  spring  of  '57  brought  such  an  overpower 
ing  army  of  Northern  settlers,  with  their  "Bibles  and  Sharpens 
rifles,"  that  when  the  next  election  for  members  of  the  Legis 
lature  was  held,  the  Free  State  men  were  able  to  hold 
the  polls  and  out-vote  the  slave  party  by  an  overwhelming 
majority. 

The  Topeka  Constitution,  for  which  so  much  had  been 
endured,  was  rejected  by  Congress,  and  a  united  effort  made 
to  fasten  upon  the  Territory,  without  ratification  by  a  popular 
vote,  a  Constitution  formed  by  the  pro-slavery  faction  at  Le- 
compton,  which  attempt  proved  to  be  the  rock  upon  which 
split  the  great  Democratic  party,  North  and  South,  Senator 
Douglas  himself  repudiating  such  an  interpretation  of  the 
Squatter  Sovereignty  Bill. 

This  Constitution  was  overthrown,  however,  in  a  peculiar 
manner,  worthy  of  narration.  When  the  time  came  for  the 
election  of  officers  under  it,  the  Free  State  party  nominated  a 
ticket,  and  turned  out  in  such  force  at  the  polls  as  to  elect 
their  men  by  i  large  majority,  and  then  these  newly-elected 
officers,  from  Governor  down,  united  in  a  memorial  to  Con 
gress,  protesting  against  the  admission  of  the  State  under 
that  fraudulent  instrument,  perhaps  the  only  case  on  record 
of  Americans  petitioning  themselves  out  of  office. 

Then  the  Free  State  party,  gaining  possession  of  the 
Territorial  Legislature  in  1858,  abrogated  by  a  single  act,  the 
multitudinous  and  barbarous  laws  passed  by  the  bogus  Legis 
lature  in  1855,  and  till  then,  in  nominal  force,  though  any  at 
tempt  to  actually  enforce  them  had  long  since  ceased,  "  and 
amid  great  rejoicing,  the  bulky  volume  of  bogus  statutes  was 
committed  to  the  devouring  flames  of  a  public  bonfire." 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

"  What,  we  have  many  goodly  days  to  see, 
The  liquid  drops  of  tears  that  we  have  shed, 
Shall  come  again,  transformed  to  orient  pearl, 
Advantaging  their  loan  with  interest, 
Ofttimes  with  double  gain  of  happiness." 

— Shakespeare. 

John  Alden's  release  from  the  prison  camp  at  Lecompton 
was  the  first  faint  glimmering  of  the  light  which  heralded 
the  dawning  of  a  brighter  day. 

He  joined  Gen.  Hale's  army  of  defence  and  retaliation, 
but  the  long  marches,  the  sanguinary  skirmishes,  the  star 
vation  rations,  the  weary  nights  with  the  bare  earth  for  a 
resting  place,  which,  with  his  brave  comrades,  he  endured 
through  the  autumn  and  early  winter,  were  but  as  the  mists  of 
the  morning,  soon  dissipated  by  the  glorious  sun  of  conquered 
peace.  Many  a  time,  when  faint  wit,h  hunger,  suffering  with 
cold,  fatigued  in  body  and  depressed  in  mind  with  the  con 
sciousness  that  their  families  were  lacking  care,  they  were 
almost  constrained  to  give  up  the  contest,  and,  folding  their 
tents,  depart  northward;  but  a  few  eloquent  words  from 
Hale  always  brought  them  to  their  feet,  and  with  the  cry  of, 
"Free  Kansas  forever!"  they  rose  with  renewed  zeal  to  the 
conflict.  Hale  was  the  motive  power,  and  Gov.  Rulison 
the  balance-wheel,  and  under  their  guidance  and  direction 
the  bark  of  State  was  safely  guided  o'er  the  rapids,  and 
went  floating  out  on  the  broad  sea  of  prosperity.  By  a 
wise  alternation  of  self-control  and  determined  resistance, 
the  fires  of  contention  were  smoldered,  a  sudden  and  violent 

345 


346  THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN. 

explosion  prevented,  and  the  fierce  under-current  of  opposing 
elements  turned  backward  to  find,  at  a  later  day,  a  more 
legitimate  outlet. 

As  the  winter  came  on,  and  hostile  incursions  became  less 
frequent,  the  Free  State  men  retired  to  their  homes,  retaining 
an  organization,  however,  and  ready  to  spring  at  a  moment's 
warning  again  to  arms. 

'*  O  that  long  and  bitter  winter ! 
O  that  cold  and  cruel  winter!" 

the  remembrance  of  which  might  make  the  stoutest  heart 
quail.  Disease  and  famine  stalked  like  gaunt,  grim  specters, 
through  the  Territory.  Men,  worn  out  by  the  toils  of  de 
fence,  prevented  thereby  from  making  a  proper  provision  for 
their  families;  and  women,  whose  brave  souls  had  endured 
the  heats  of  summer  and  the  frosts  of  autumn,  perhaps  on  a 
diet  of  green  corn  ground  by  hand,  were  unable  to  withstand 
the  cold  blasts  of  winter,  which  penetrated  every  crevice  of 
their  unplastered  cabins,  and  now  lay  on  beds  of  sickness 
without  strength  to  prepare  and  make  available,  the  supplies 
sent  by  generous  friends  in  the  North. 

Ah,  it  was  an  easy  'thing,  from  beds  of  down  in  homes 
of  luxury,  to  echo  back  the  cry  "No  more  slave  States!"  but 
the  early  pioneers  of  Kansas  with  the  true  spirit  of  devotion, 
cast  themselves  before  the  iron  wheels  of  the  great  Juggernaut 
of  oppression,  and  with  their  own  stout  arms  stayed  his  on 
ward  march. 

The  cry  of  Agnes  Langtry  in  her  bereavement  had  been 
for  work. 

"  Give  me  work!  that  I  may  have  no  time  to  look  back, 
upon  the  joys  of  the  past,  or  forward  over  the  long  dreary 
path  which  stretches  out  bleak  and  lonely  into  the  future." 

This  winter  encompassed  her  with  opportunities.  In  for- 
getfulness  of  self,  and  in  alleviation  of  the  woes  of  others,  she 
found  a  most  salutary  narcotic  for  her  own  grief.  Many  a 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  347 

mother  had  cause  to  bless  the  sweet,  sad  face,  whose  presence 
at  her  bedside  brought  back  the  ebbing  tide  of  hope,  and  re 
called  the  vanishing  resolution  so  necessary  to  recovery.  With 
her  own  hands  she  gently  bathed  the  fevered  brow,  prepared 
the  food  to  tempt  the  feeble  appetite,  and  fitted  the  clothing 
to  the  necessities  of  the  half- clad  little  ones.  With  rare  good 
judgment  she  managed  the  supplies  sent  to  her  hand,  that 
there  should  be  no  waste,  and  that  the  utmost  benefit  might 
be  derived  from  them. 

Nor  were  her  ministrations  confined  to  Free  State  people 
alone,  but,  like  their  gentle  dew  from  heaven,  were  showered 
upon  the  sick  and  suffering  of  all  parties  and  sections, 
with  equal  graciousness. 

Occasionally,  during  the  course  of  these  labors,  she  came 
in  contact  with  Roderick  Delaney,  engaged  in  a  like  work  of 
Christian  charity.  Especially  was  he  concerned  for  those 
whom  his  own  persuasions  had  induced  to  emigrate,  and 
whom  he  found  entirely  unable  to  adjust  themselves  to  the 
requirements  of  their  new  environment.  Unaccustomed  as 
they  were  to  the  rigors  of  a  severe  climate,  and  prevented  by 
the  slothful  habits  of  procrastination,  as  well  as  by  the  political 
troubles,  from  making  a  proper  provision  for  the  winter,  he 
found  them  quite  a  burden  upon  his  hands,  a  willing  burden 
many  of  them,  without  the  least  sense  of  the  unmanliness 
of  dependence. 

Then  too,  their  habits  of  improvidence  were  such,  that  it 
was  almost  impossible  to  keep  them  provided  for. 

"  With  your  people,"  said  he  to  Agnes  one  day,  "  a  little 
goes  a  great  ways.  Give  them  a  certain  amount  of  good 
food,  and  they  immediately  calculate  how  many  days  it  may 
be  made  to  last  by  the  addition  of  such  coarser  material  as  they 
have  at  hand;  but  let  me  give  our  folks  a  supply,  and  they  at 
once  proceed  to  'eat,  drink  and  be  merry,'  with  as  much 
extravagance,  as  if  they  had  unlimited  resources  at  com- 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

mand.  I  cannot  impress  upon  them  the  necessity  of 
economy." 

"  You  must  have  patience  with  them,"  said  Agnes;  "  that 
lesson  requires  years  of  *  line  upon  line,  and  precept  upon 
precept'." 

And  then,  as  the  spring  came  on,  with  all  the  joyous 
awakening  of  nature  from  her  slumbers,  as  the  river  was  un 
locked  from  icy  chains,  and  the  little  creek  swept  by  with 
gurgling  sound,  and  the  birds  came  again  with  merry  songs 
to  warble  in  the  branches  through  which  the  uprising  sap  was 
coursing  with  new  life,  and  bursting  forth  in  tiny  leaves  and 
buds,  the  Free  State  men  again  essayed  to  woo  sustenance 
and  prosperity  from  the  soil.  Then  Roderick  Delaney  came 
once  more  to  Agnes  with  troubled  brow. 

"What  shall  I  do  with  these  people?"  said  he.  "While 
the  wise  and  active  have  already  conquered  all  difficulties  by 
daring  to  attempt  them,  they  shrink  at  the  thought  of  toil,  and 
sit  basking  in  the  sunshine,  as  free  from  care  as  if  they  had 
never  known  a  winter's  cold.  I  wish  they  could  imbibe  even 
a  small  portion  of  the  industry  which  is  abroad  in  the  air." 

"  I  think,"  Agnes  replied  thoughtfully,  "  that  example 
would  be  better  than  precept." 

"  Well,  they  have  enough  of  that,  I'm  sure.  There  are 
examples  on  every  side  of  them,  but  they  will  not  see,  they 
will  not  heed." 

"  Ah,  yes!"  said  she.  "  But  I  mean  that  if  you  were  to 
settle  down  among  them  yourself,  and  endeavor  to  develop 
the  agricultural  interests  of  the  country,  it  might  have  a  good 
effect.  We  are  more  willing  to  take  lessons  from  our  friends 
than  from  -our  enemies,  and  your  people,  to  put  it  in  its  mild 
est  form,  have  no  affection  for,  and  no  desire  to  imitate  us  in 
any  way.  But  they  would  with  alacrity,  'do  as  Captain 
Delaney  does.' ' 

Roderick  shook   his  head.     "  You  are  a  hard  taskmaster, 


THE  SQUATTER  SOVEREIGN.  349 

Mrs.  Langtry,  and  if  I  succeeded  no  better  in  carrying  out  this 
last  suggestion,  than  I  did  in  the  work  you  bade  me  attempt 
nearly  two  years  ago,  would  it  be  worth  while  to  try  the  ex 
periment?" 

"  If  we  do  the  work  set  before  us  with  our  might,  Mr. 
Delaney,  it  is  all  that  is  askecj  of  us.  We  may  not  live  to  see 
the  result,  we  may  not  measure  its  benefits,"  and  here  her 
eyes  filled  with  tears,  "  but  the  world  will — humanity  will." 

And  so  it  turned  out  that  Roderick  Delaney  became  her 
neighbor.  He  purchased  an  additional  tract  of  land  in  the 
vicinity  of  Charleston,  and  began  the  experiment  which  has 
since  proved  so  successful,  of  farming  on  a  large  scale ;  and  as 
Agnes  had  prophesied,  those  South  Carolinians  who  would  not 
till  their  own  claims  with  any  degree  of  diligence,  because  the 
reward  of  the  autumn's  crop  was  so  far  distant  from  the 
spring's  toil,  that  to  them  the  connection' was  not  sufficiently 
obvious,  learned  their  first  lessons  of  industry  in  working  for 
the  Captain  by  the  day  or  week,  for  the  daily  or  weekly 
stipend,  becoming  in  time  self-supporting. 

At  Agnes'  suggestion  after  a  time  he  formed  a  neighbor 
hood  Agricultural  Society,  whose  weekly  meetings  for  the 
discussion  of  farming  interests  provqd  quite  a  stimulus  to  them, 
He  induced  her  to  visit  among  the  women,  and  in  her  kind 
way,  suggest  improvements  in  their  method  of  cookery  and 
housekeeping,  and  also  later,  in  their  attire  and  manners.  No 
other  woman  could  have  done  this,  but  Agnes  Langtry  pos 
sessed  rare  tact,  and  besides,  so  unusual  had  been  her  deeds  of 
kindness,  so  untiring  her  efforts  in  their  behalf  in  sickness  and 
in  want,  that  she  represented  to  them  rather  the  spirit  of 
charity  than  a  true  flesh  and  blood  Yankee  woman. 

And  now  it  became  apparent,  so  near  is  a  mutual  pur 
pose  and  a  sympathy  of  aims  to  the  boundaries  of  that  mys 
terious  region — love,  that  if  Agnes  desired  she  might  have 
the  hand  and  fortune  of  Roderick  Delaney  laid  at  her  feet. 


35°  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

But  no,  the  fountain  of  love  whose  inmost  depths  had  stirred 
to  meet  the  ennobling  affection  of  Edward  Langtry,  was 
forever  sealed  to  the  advances  of  another.  For  the  alleviation 
of  the  woes  of  others,  for  the  welfare  of  humanity,  and  the 
development  of  a  higher  life  in  those  around  her,  her  sym 
pathies  went  out  to  him.  But  there  was  that  in  her  manner 
which  said  plainly,  in  reply  to  the  slightest  manifestation  of 
warmth  of  personal  feeling:  "  Thus  far  shalt  thou  go  and  no 
further!  My  dream  of  love  is  over." 

As  soon  as  it  became  evident  that  they  might  live  in  peace 
and  safety  in  the  cabin  on  the  Areposa,  Amy  and  John  Alden 
returned  thither,  not  perhaps  in  so  joyous  and  so  expectant  a 
mood  as  when  they  had  first  taken  possession  of  it,  but  with 
an  enhanced  appreciation,  gained  from  deprivation,  of  its 
homely  joys.  Like  themselves,  it  had  seen  hard  usage.  The 
doors  were  off  their  hinges,  and  the  windows  boasted  not  an 
unfractured  pane  of  glass.  The  shed  attached  for  cooking 
purposes  was  gone,  and  the  winds  had  free  course  through 
the  apertures  in  the  walls  from  whence  the  greater  part  of 
the  chinking  had  been  jarred ;  the  weight  and  solidity  of  the 
logs  had  alone  prevented  their  being  carried  off.  But,  as  we 
bind  up  the  wounds  of  a  friend,  so  did  they  with  willing 
hands  remodel  and  repair  this  humble  home.  They  hung  the 
doors,  and  glazed  the  windows  anew;  they  mended  the  walls 
and  replanted  the  vines  outside,  which  had  been  ruthlessly 
trodden  under  foot.  The  fences,  hewn  out  with  so  much 
time  and  toil,  had  been  carried  off  to  be  used  as  fuel,  but  they 
were  in  time  enabled  to  replace  them.  The  fruit  trees,  so 
carefully  planted  and  watered,  and  left  in  such  a  thriving 
condition,  had  been  wantonly  destroyed,  and  it  was  impossible 
to  obtain  others  this  year,  as  the  more  urgent  needs  must 
first  be  supplied;  yet  they  were  only  too  happy  to  be  allowed 
to  work  out  their  plans  in  peace,  and  too  busy  to  spend  much 
time  in  useless  regrets. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  351 

Again  the  strong  oxen  turn  the  furrow,  and  once  more 
they  plant  the  seed  in  field  and  garden,  and  watch  the  tiny 
shoots  with  eager  eyes.  But  through  all,  and  with  all  their 
renewed  happiness,  was  mingled  a  vein  of  deepest  sadness. 
Everything  around  and  about  was  so  imbued  with  remem 
brances  of  the  dearly-loved  son  and  friend  for  whom  fate  had 
decreed  the  martyr's  crown,  that  nature's  brightest  tints  wore, 
for  a  time,  a  somber  hue.  And  in  all  the  subsequent  years  of 
patient  toil,  made  necessary  by  their  conditions  and  surround 
ings,  the  settlers  of  Walnut  Grove  have  not  ceased  to  feel 
the  inspiration  which,  during  that  short  and  troubled  period, 
flowed  from  those  strong  and  noble  souls.  To  have  com 
muned  with  them  in  the  intimate  relations  of  close  friendship, 
was  to  have  breathed  the  pure  air  that  nourishes  the  am 
bitions  of  lofty  spirits. 

Mrs.  Hardiker  had  returned  to  Missouri  on  the  death 
of  her  son,  and  the  Aldens  heard  of  her  but  once,  and  that 
was  on  the  occasion  of  her  marriage  with  the  Hon.  Dr. 
Benjamin  Cornello,  whose  broken  political  fortunes  she  no 
doubt  temporarily  mended  with  her  plantation  and  negroes. 
Zeke  Fagin  betook  himself  to  the  far  Southwest,  and  after 
ward  became  noted  as  a  raider  during  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion. 

In  June — the  month  of  roses  and  of  balmy  breezes — the 
restoration  of  happiness  to  the  prairie  home  of  the  Aldens,  was 
made  complete  by  the  return  of  their  bonny,  bonny  Grace, 
lovely  as  ever,  but  with  an  added  charm  of  dignity  and  self - 
poised  womanliness.  The  years  of  absence,  though  quiet 
ones,  had  not  been  cheerless,  and  she  had  gained  much  in 
culture  and  habits  of  thought. 

"  How  strangely  scenes  answer  to  our  moods,  mamma," 
said  she,  one  day  soon  after  her  return.  u  Everything  seemed 
so  gloomy  to  me  when  I  first  went  back  to  Cleveland.  The 
houses,  the  trees,  the  plants,  even  the  dear  old  familiar  faces 


352  THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 

appeared  to  have  been  dyed  in  somber  colors,  which  gradually 
moderated  and  then  wore  away;  but  never,  I  think,  quite 
took  on  the  hues  which  they  wore  when  I  gazed  upon 
them  with  childish  eyes,  and  basked  in  their  brightness 
with  the  thoughtlessness  of  the  butterfly." 

Capt.  Delaney  she  met  with  an  easy  manner,  which 
showed  her  to  be  free  from  any  embarrassing  remembrances. 
On  his  part  there  was  apparent  somewhat  of  surprise  at  the 
chameleon-like  character  of  this  maiden,  who  two  years 
before  had  awakened  his  passionate  admiration  by  her  artless 
and  winning  childish  graces,  and  who  now  challenged  his  re 
spect  by  her  responsive  sympathy  with  all  the  higher  and 
more  cultured  elements  of  his  own  better  nature.  He  sought 
her  presence  frequently,  and  thus  there  came  to  pass  what 
might  have  been  expected,  the  light  sparkled  in  her  eye,  and 
the  rosy  blush  mantled  her  fair  cheek  at  his  coming. 

Like  draws  to  like. 

"  How  can  I  tell  the  signals  and  the  signs, 
By  which  one  heart  another  heart  divines; 
How  can  I  tell  the  many  thousand  ways 
By  which  it  keeps  the  secret  it  betrays." 

Oh,  mystery  of  love!  Oh,  strange  romance!  Again  its 
enchanted  pages  were  turned  o'er  beneath  the  silvery  moon, 
adown  the  rustic  path,  and  by  the  winding  stream.  Low 
voices  in  earnest  tones  repeated  the  old,  old  story :  "  I  love 
you!"  "I  love  you!"  The  wild  flowers  whispered  it,  the 
birds  sang  it,  and  the  low  winds  breathed  it  in  soft  music,  to 
which  their  heartstrings  answered  back  without  one  dis 
cordant  note. 

How  swiftly  that  summer  glided  by  on  radiant  wings, 
bringing  a  rich  reward  to  the  husbandman,  and  full  fruition 
to  the  lovers'  hopes,  and  at  its  close  a  fair  bride  went  with  the 
blessing  of  fond  parents  to  grace  the  home  of  a  proud  and 
happy  bridegroom. 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN.  353 

Mabel  Delaney  came  from  St.  Louis  to  gladden  the  wed 
ding  party  with  her  presence,  before  returning  to  her  home 
in  South  Carolina;  and  during  her  visit,  Benty,  our  blonde 
Bostonian,  won  from  her  a  promise,  which  she  was  only  able 
to  redeem  when  the  passing  years  had  freed  her  from  her  duty 
to  her  father,  who  fell  at  the  head  of  his  troops  bravely  fight 
ing  for  slavery  and  secession. 

And  in  the  years  which,  since  then,  have  come  and  gone, 
John  Alden's  brightest  anticipations  of  material  prosperity 
have  been  more  than  realized.  Nature  with  lavish  hand  has 
responded  to  the  "open  sesame"  of  patient  toil,  and  graced  the 
undulating  prairies  here  and  there  with  majestic  trees.  She 
has  given  him  grain,  and  fruits,  and  herbs,  an  abundance  for 
use,  for  storage,  and  for  exchange.  Each  autumn,  rosy  apples 
peep  from  beneath  green  foliage,  purple  grapes  cluster  on  the 
vines,  and  yellow  pears  hang  gracefully  from  heavily-laden 
boughs.  The  golden  corn  waves  its  silken  tassels,  and  the 
breeze  is  fragrant  with  the  scent  of  the  new  made  hay,  and 
resonant  with  the  click,  clack  of  the  giant  mower  of  the  prairie 
and  the  hum  of  the  steam-thresher,  as  it  magically  separates 
the  wheat  from  the  chaff. 

John  and  Amy  Alden  sit  at  evening,  on  the  veranda  of  a 
large  and  commodious  farm  house,  their  faces  bearing  an  un 
mistakable  impress  of  content — content  material  and  spiritual 

beautifying   and    glorifying   all   the   lines   left  by   toil   and 

care,  by   sacrifice   and   subordination  of  things  selfish,  to  the 
higher  motives  of  patriotism  and  humanity. 

Their  home  is  made  glad  by  the  happy  voices  of  children 
—their  grandchildren — dark  eyed  and  fair-faced;  the  toning 
down  of  whose  imperious  natures,  with  each  added  year  of 
culture  and  experience,  bespeaks  the  mingling  of  Northern 
and  Southern  blood. 

But  most  these  children  love  to  follow  grandpa  down 
the  steps,  over  the  velvety  lawn,  beyond  the  garden,  and 


354 


THE    SQUATTER    SOVEREIGN. 


through  the  orchard,  where,  on  a  little  knoll,  surrounded 
by  tall  trees,  and  overgrown  with  vines,  stands  the  old 
cabin,  like  its  owner,  grown  grey  with  age.  And  as  in 
youth,  John  Alden's  thoughts  dwelt  much  in  the  future,  so 
now  the  past  enchants  him,  and  the  young  Delaneys  listen 
with  eager  interest  to  his  oft-repeated  tales  of  the  days  of 
"  Squatter  Sovereignty." 


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